NATION

NATION

Many post offices to close
early on Christmas Eve

WASHINGTON — Post offices will be open Monday — Christmas Eve — but many will close early, the Postal Service said.

Postal officials said that the number of people visiting post offices drops off on Christmas Eve, so the closings will allow workers to spend time with their families.

There will be normal delivery on that day, however, and Express Mail will also be delivered on Christmas Day. Revised hours will be posted at each post office.

U.S. declines to cite China
for manipulating currency

WASHINGTON — The U.S. declined on Wednesday to cite China for manipulating its currency for unfair trade advantages.

That finding came despite pressure in Congress for penalties because of the growing U.S. trade deficit with China. The trade gap is expected to hit an all-time high above $250 billion this year. The imbalance has been blamed as contributing to the loss of 3 million manufacturing jobs in the United States since 2000.

The Bush administration told Congress the recent “moderate acceleration” in the rise of the value of China’s currency, the yuan, versus the dollar was welcome but “still insufficient.” But the administration’s report, required twice a year, said China did not meet the requirements in U.S. law to be designated a currency manipulator.

Associated Press