On Monday UPS announced that its projections show it will handle more parcel deliveries this holiday season than it did last year.

UPS will deliver about 400 million packages worldwide between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Further UPS announced that it will hire 50,000 temporary workers to handle the greater volume.

Last week FedEx also reported that it anticipates shipping more this year.

FedEx said it will hire 14,000 additional part-time and temporary holiday workers.

Both UPS and FedEx are considered indicators of U.S. economic activity because their business booms and cools with the broader economy.

Post recession, labor markets usually improve first by showing a significant pickup in temporary labor, followed shortly thereafter by a return to full-time job growth.

This time is no different.

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