Labor Day , which commemorates the American labor movement and the contribution workers have made to the US economy, has been an official federal holiday since 1894 .
Since it is always held on the first Monday of September , Labor Day is considered by many as the unofficial end of summer. As students begin to go back to school, the federal holiday is an occasion for many Americans to enjoy one last long weekend ahead of the fall months.
But while many workers have the day off, most big consumer-facing businesses remain open on the day, with some even offering promotional sales to lure customers. Here, we take a look at what is open and closed this year on Labor Day.
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Government offices, post offices, courts, and schools are closed on Labor Day. US stock markets and banks are closed too, but ATMs and online banking services will be available. Standard FedEx and UPS pickup and delivery services will not be available on Labor Day, although some critical services - such as UPS Express Critical and FedEx Custom Critical - will be offered at certain locations.
Warehouse membership club Costco will be closed on Labor Day, but the vast majority of major national retailers and grocery stores will be open, with some offering promotional sales to lure customers. Hours may vary by location, so you should always check your local store.
Most retailers under Kroger will be open as normal today, including Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, Fry's, QFC, City Market, Owen's, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker's, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market, Mariano's, Fred Meyer and Food 4 Less. Other major retailers operating as normal include Walmart and Target.
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And most CVS Pharmacy locations will also be open, even though some locations may operate reduced hours. Walgreens stores will also operate their normal hours on Labor Day, however most pharmacies are closed with the exception of 24-hour locations and select pharmacies.
Despite the fact that many schools are back in session and the summer travel season is winding down, the Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people at airports between Thursday and next Wednesday - a record for the Labor Day period. AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9 per cent higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4 per cent.
If you are traveling by car, you will be getting a break on gasoline compared with last year. The nationwide average was recently $3.44 per gallon, compared to $3.86 a year ago, according to AAA. Travelers are urged to leave early due to longer queues, watching the weather and preparing a backup route in case of severe conditions, and be patient in case of delays or cancellations.
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