NEW YORK, July 4, 2026 – As Americans celebrate Independence Day, major retailers have taken divergent paths on store hours. Walmart (NYSE:WMT), Target (NYSE:TGT), Kroger (NYSE:KR), Home Depot (NYSE:HD), and Lowe's (NYSE:LOW) remain open, while Costco (NASDAQ:COST) has closed all its U.S. warehouses for the holiday.
According to the National Retail Federation, 87% of U.S. consumers plan to celebrate July 4, with average food spending projected to reach a record $94.41. AAA estimates 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles, including 61.4 million by car, marking a record volume. "Record volumes this year," said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.
Retailer Holiday Schedules
Walmart confirmed its U.S. stores are operating on normal hours. Target posted July 4 hours from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kroger stores are open, though pharmacy and clinic hours may vary. Home Depot is open until 8 p.m. local time, while Lowe's is running regular hours. Costco, adhering to its policy, has closed all U.S. warehouses for Independence Day.
The collective annual sales of the open retailers total approximately $1.22 trillion, more than four times Costco's fiscal 2025 net sales of $269.9 billion. While this does not directly predict July 4 revenues, it underscores the scale of operations choosing to remain open to manage labor costs and holiday demand.
Restaurant and Quick-Service Trends
Chick-fil-A, a privately held chain, opened its U.S. stores on July 4 but with varying hours. The company's founder, S. Truett Cathy, began the tradition of Sunday closure in 1946 for rest and worship, so Chick-fil-A remains closed on July 5. McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) kept most locations open, while Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) shut most stores at 3 p.m. Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) adjusted hours by location. Olive Garden, operated by Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI), maintained its normal schedule.
Mail and Parcel Services
The U.S. Postal Service closed all post offices on July 4, with regular mail and retail services resuming Monday, July 6. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) and FedEx (NYSE:FDX) suspended most pickups and deliveries on July 4, prompting shoppers to rely on stores, apps, or local pickup for urgent needs.
Fuel Prices and Travel
GasBuddy had forecast a national average of about $3.75 per gallon for July 4, which would be the second highest on record. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, described the fuel market as "anything but predictable." Reuters reported the national average at $3.772 as of Friday, up 62.7 cents from a year ago.
Housing and Home Improvement
Home improvement chains entered the holiday period amid softer housing demand. Home Depot CEO Ted Decker cited "consumer uncertainty and pressure in housing" during the company's fiscal 2025 earnings call. Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison noted that the "housing macro remains pressured."
Market Outlook
Both NYSE and Nasdaq were closed on Friday, July 3 for Independence Day. The first cash-equity trading session after the holiday is scheduled for Monday, July 6. Nasdaq's normal hours for U.S. equities run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
