ATLANTA, Georgia - April 23, 2009 – United Parcel Service, Inc.’s first-quarter profit plunged as fewer people sent packages and used premium services like next-day air amid the global financial crisis. The world’s largest shipping carrier also gave a disappointing second-quarter outlook on Thursday, and disclosed it shed 10,000 domestic jobs during the first three months of the year.

UPS earnings in the January-March period fell more than 55 percent to $401 million as revenue dropped more than 13 percent, compared to profit of $906 million a year ago.

The results missed Wall Street expectations, and UPS provided an outlook for second-quarter earnings that was below analysts’ expectations. UPS shares fell.