Where To Get The Best Labor Day Discounts In California

Most major retailers are open on Labor Day, and the better discounts tend to be on mattresses, appliances, patio furniture and other summer merchandise stores want to clear out before fall.

The notable exception is Costco, whose warehouse stores in California and nationwide are closed Monday, Sept. 7, for the holiday. But expect hardware and home improvement chains to be open, hoping to lure people with the day off into their stores.

Hours at locally owned stores, restaurants and other small businesses may be less predictable. Independent businesses set their own holiday schedules, so some may close for Labor Day or operate on reduced hours. It’s worth checking before heading out.

Most shopping malls are open on Labor Day, although some operate on reduced holiday hours, and tenants may set their own schedules.

In Northern California, Great Mall in Milpitas is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Labor Day. Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In Southern California, The Grove is Los Angeles is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Labor Day. Ontario Mills in Ontario is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fashion Valley in San Diego is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Discounts Matter More Now

For households already watching every dollar, Labor Day discounts may carry a little more weight this year. The Federal Reserve said in July that lower- and middle-income consumers were increasingly trading down, buying less and cutting back on discretionary purchases as prices continued to rise.

In the Fed’s head office in San Francisco, which serves nine western states, including California, employers largely maintained employment levels during the July to mid-August reporting period. Wages were up slightly, while prices rose modestly, driven by elevated oil prices, tariffs, and higher input costs.

In August, the central bank said tariffs are showing up in household budgets in a pretty simple way: People are paying more and buying less.

Spending on goods affected by tariffs fell by roughly three times as much as their prices rose, largely because consumers cut back on nonessential purchases. Lower-income households were hit hardest by higher prices, while middle-income households did more of the cutting back on discretionary spending. Across income levels, worried consumers were also more likely to trade down to cheaper products when buying necessities.

Best Labor Day Sales

Labor Day weekend is traditionally among the best times to buy a mattress or other bedding. Labor Day discounts can run about 5 percent or 10 percent better than ordinary promotional prices, according to Consumer Reports.

Also, the publication said major appliances are routinely marked down in Labor Day weekend sales, and it’s a good time to pick up gardening tools, patio furniture and grills.

Apparel stores are offering big markdowns in end-of-season clearance sales on shorts, swimwear and other warm-weather clothing. Consumers may also find some back-to-school deals on fall apparel.

Consumer Reports said that even though laptops and other electronics may be advertised as on sale, deeper discounts will likely be found on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or during major e-commerce deal days.