STAMFORD, Conn., May 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- America is a nation on the move, with more than 30 million citizens uprooting themselves every year, many of them to a new location far from their original home. It is no wonder, then, that Mother's Day is one of the most popular times of year to send a card, reconnecting families across distances too great to travel for the weekend.

New research from Pitney Bowes confirms that Mother's Day is one of America's most popular mailing holidays, with some 30 percent of the adult population planning to send a special greeting through the mail. This places Mother's Day behind only December religious holidays (55%) as a date-specific occasion on which to send a card to a loved one. Birthdays remain the card-mailing champion, with 65% of respondents saying they use the mail to reach out on these milestone occasions.

"There is something irreplaceable about a hand-written card on Mother's Day, no matter what your age," said Murray Martin, president and CEO of Pitney Bowes. "My own mother is in her 90s now, and it still gives her a special pleasure to receive Mother's Day cards from me and my siblings."

The survey findings stem from a recent online poll of 1,000 American adults, commissioned by Pitney Bowes.

Interest in sending out cards to Mom is strongest among those under age 40, but fully one-fourth of Americans over 50 still send a card to their mother, a testament to the strong maternal bond as well as the great longevity of many mothers' lives.

Suburban residents (31.8%) are slightly more likely to send a Mother's Day card, compared to urban dwellers (28.6%) and rural Americans (27.5%).

Regrettably for dads, Americans are not as card-happy in June when Father's Day rolls around. According to the Pitney Bowes survey, only 19% of respondents intend to put a Father's Day card in the mail. This differential largely holds up across all age groups and geographies.

For consumers who are planning to send cards to Mom or Dad this year, another way to add a personal touch is through customized postage. Adding a favorite photo and image to postage is a unique way that consumers can capture and share life's special moments and add great charm to mail. To create postage or for additional information, visit the Stamp Expressions Web site at http://www.stampexpressions.com/personalpostage/.

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes is a mailstream technology company that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages. Our 36,000 employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1920 and annual revenues now total $6.1 billion. More information is available at www.pb.com.

SOURCE: Pitney Bowes Inc.

Pitney Bowes Inc.
Matt Broder, 203-351-6347
matthew.broder@pb.com