Same Experts. New Name.
SeQuel Response and FM Engage are now Franklin Madison Direct. While our name has changed, everything else remains the same: our people, our process, and our passion for driving measurable results through direct marketing.
Blog
Direct Mail Volume & Trends Report: Q3 2025
Early industry data shows direct marketers mailed more than 8 billion pieces in Q3 2025. This brings 2025’s total direct mail volume to 25.4 billion pieces, an increase of 11.9% from 2024 volumes during the same period.
This Quarter’s Direct Mail Volume & Trends
Credit cards once again led Q3, accounting for just over 20% of total mail volume. 89% of these pieces were acquisition-based, as issuers sought to capture consumers’ attention ahead of fall spending and holiday travel. Mortgage & loan marketers followed at 16.9% of quarterly volume, supported by an uptick in rate-sensitive promotions and refinancing. Consumer services comprised 14.7% of Q3 mailings, while insurance and retail rounded out the top five at 13.6% and 12.2%.
A closer examination of Q3 direct mail trends reveals that investment marketers increased their acquisition mailings by 11% compared to Q2, despite broader category declines. Meanwhile, banking brands leaned into upsell and cross-sell tactics, up 8% YOY. 68% of all Q3 pieces were envelopes, signaling that marketers leaned on personalization and compliance-driven formats to drive engagement.
“Q3’s report was highly anticipated here at FMD, as we looked to see how the aggregate industry reacted to July’s “double whammy” postage increase,” said Erik Koenig, President of Franklin Madison Direct. “While volumes did pull back QOQ and YOY, the decline was marginal, reiterating what we learned in our marketer survey this summer… direct mail performance is up and direct mail spend is growing.”
The infographic below shares additional information on Q3 2025 direct mail performance. You can find more direct marketing resources and industry insights on our blog, including why leading brands still bet on the direct mail letter format and our most recent direct mail report.
* Data provided by Competiscan, November 2025. Volume projections are based on a stratified sampling scheme that ensures a balanced calculation, representative of the US Census across different age groups, geographical locations, income levels, and home ownership status.
