This Friday, July 3, the United States comes to a halt. The Independence Day holiday, which this year falls on Saturday, is moved to Friday for federal employees, and with it comes a wave of closures affecting banks, post offices, stock exchanges, and even stores like Costco. If you were planning to run an errand, better wait until Monday.
The official site USAGov confirmed that all federal government offices will close on Friday the 3rd, and that the holiday is celebrated on Saturday the 4th. But beware: most private services also join the long weekend. The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced it will not open its doors on Friday the 3rd, and mail deliveries will resume only on Monday the 6th. On Thursday the 2nd and Friday the 3rd, service will operate normally, but on Saturday the 4th there will be no delivery or public service.
In the parcel world, UPS reported that on Saturday the 4th it will not make pickups or deliveries, and The UPS Store locations may not open. The company recommends checking the hours of each location. FedEx, for its part, applies a similar scheme: on Friday the 3rd it will have «modified service» and on Saturday the 4th it closes general operations. FedEx Office will operate with special hours, while FedEx Custom Critical will remain active and FedEx Logistics will not function.
Banks are also taking the day off. Although each entity manages its own calendar, the Federal Reserve considers Friday the 3rd a holiday, so most branches will close. Electronic payment processing through FedACH is interrupted on Friday the 3rd at 11:30 PM (Eastern Time) and resumes on Sunday the 5th at 5:30 PM. This may delay transfers and automatic payments.
Stock exchanges are not far behind. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq confirmed they will not open on Friday, July 3. Options and stocks in the United States will not trade either. If you were thinking of investing, you will have to wait until Monday.
In the retail sector, Costco is one of the chains that closes its doors on Friday the 3rd. Other stores like Walmart and Target usually open with normal hours, but it is always good to check. Supermarkets and pharmacies generally keep their doors open, though with reduced hours.
The July 4th holiday is one of the most important in the United States, and this year, falling on Saturday, it creates a long weekend that many take advantage of to travel. But if you need to do any urgent paperwork, better get it done before Thursday. Because on Friday, everything is on pause.
Para mí este feriado yanki huele a imperialismo puro celebrando genocidios. Mientras ellos festejan su independencia acá lloramos 30 mil desaparecidos. Bancos cerrados? yo creo que deberían fundirse todos esos vendepatria. Viva Cuba socialista carajo!
Para mí este feriado yankee es una joda de zurdos. Bancos cerrados, correo parado, una fiesta para los vagos que después viven del Estado. Mientras ellos festejan su independencia, acá laburamos como burros. Viva la libertad carajo, pero la de verdad, no la de los que viven del cuento.