As summer fades, it’s time to face up to the fact that it’s Labor Day on Monday and fall and winter are on their way. Some kids are already back in school and others will start Tuesday.
What are your plans for Labor Day? I’ll be busy writing sections of a report for my favorite citizens’ group.
Facts and figures on Labor Day this year from The Global Statistics
First Labor Day celebrated: Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City.
Labor Day became a federal holiday: June 28, 1894, signed by President Grover Cleveland.
Grill owners who will have a cook out on Labor Day: 58 percent.
Union member rate among U.S. workers: 10 percent.
K-12 back to school spending: $43.3 billion, a record.
Average K-12 family spending for back to school: $865.
Civic Sciences offers this information on Labor Day shopping
Planning to shop during the Labor Day sales: 22 percent.
Planning to spend $1 to $50: 29 percent.
What shoppers want: Apparel, 26 percent; big-ticket categories such as electronics and tech, 24 percent; furniture and home goods, 18 percent; video games, 4 percent; fitness and sports equipment, 3 percent.
AAA predicts these Labor Day travel numbers
Flights for average domestic airfare: Up 2 percent compared to last year, averaging $750 for a roundtrip ticket.
Flights to top domestic destinations: Cost nearly 20 percent more than last year.
International airfare: Down 4 percent from last year.
Hotel prices: Up in both domestic markets, 9 percent, and international markets, 12 percent.
Top domestic destinations: Seattle, Orlando, Boston, Denver, New York.
Cruises departing from U.S. ports: 4 percent cheaper than last year.
GasBuddy predicts record gas prices for Labor Day
$4.03 a gallon: 87 cents higher than in 2025, and the highest Labor Day price at the pump on record, surpassing the previous record of $3.83 a gallon in 2012.
To save money: Shop around for the best gas prices along your route.
Labor Day by the numbers from National Today
170 million: Number of Americans over 16 in the labor force.
34 percent: The percentage of Americans planning to drive or fly this Labor Day weekend.
$55,000: The median U.S. household income.
4.1 percent: Unemployment rate for July 2026.
Happy barbecuing, shopping, traveling, or just relaxing, whatever your plans and Labor Day brings.
