What began as a May 30 tribute to America’s fallen service members has, since 1971, been officially recognized as Memorial Day—a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May each year.
While originally intended as a solemn day of remembrance, the holiday has increasingly become associated with commercial activity, with many businesses choosing to stay open and offering large-scale sales. Today, Memorial Day weekend is also one of the busiest times for travel and retail in the United States.
Here’s a rundown of what’s open and closed this Memorial Day:
Government ServicesAll federal, state, and local government offices—including courts, post offices, and public schools—will be closed in observance of the holiday.
Banks and Financial MarketsBoth the U.S. stock exchanges and major banking institutions will not operate on Memorial Day. In addition, most regular FedEx and UPS delivery and pickup options will be unavailable. However, certain specialized services may still be provided.
Retail OutletsCostco, the popular membership-only warehouse chain, will shut its doors for the day. Nonetheless, the majority of other retailers will be open, many of them offering Memorial Day promotions and discounts. Customers are encouraged to check local store hours as they may differ by location.
Travel and TransportationMemorial Day weekend also serves as the informal kickoff to the summer vacation season, and this year is shaping up to be a record-breaker. Despite ongoing issues in the travel sector, Americans are planning to hit the road—and skies—in historic numbers.
According to AAA, more than 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday, an increase of 1.4 million from last year. If predictions hold true, this will surpass the previous record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers set two decades ago.
The organization’s fuel pricing tool indicates that drivers will see some relief at the pump compared to last year. As of Wednesday, the average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.18—down from $3.60 at the same time in 2023.
AAA forecasts that 39.4 million people will be traveling by car, the highest ever recorded for Memorial Day since the group began tracking travel patterns in 2000. Air travel is also expected to see a bump, with 3.61 million passengers projected to fly—an increase of nearly 2% over last year’s 3.55 million.
However, some fliers remain uneasy due to recent aviation concerns. In January, a tragic midair collision involving a commercial jet and a U.S. Army helicopter over Washington, D.C. resulted in 67 fatalities. Other close calls have kept the spotlight on aviation safety.
Compounding the issue, travelers have faced delays and cancellations caused by staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and equipment failures, particularly at the busy Newark, New Jersey, air traffic control center. These complications have left some would-be fliers reconsidering their travel plans.
{Matzav.com}