What is open, closed on Good Friday? Post office, banks, stock market, more

Good Friday, falling on April 18 this year, leads to various closures across the United States, despite not being a federal holiday. In 12 states where it is observed as a public holiday, such as Connecticut and New Jersey, state government offices remain closed. However, essential services like the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx, continue to operate. Most banks adhere to the Federal Reserve's schedule and stay open, while the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange close their doors for the day. School closures are common, although some institutions may have special schedules.
The observance of Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a significant event during Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. Its recognition varies across the country, affecting local businesses and services differently. The impact of these closures can influence local economies and daily routines, underscoring the significance of religious observances in a diverse society. Melina Khan, a reporter for the USA TODAY Network, highlights these variances, providing a comprehensive guide to what remains open or closed during this time.
RATING
The article effectively provides factual and practical information about the operational status of various services on Good Friday, demonstrating high accuracy and clarity. It serves a public interest by addressing logistical concerns relevant to a broad audience. While the article maintains balance and neutrality, it could improve transparency by explicitly citing sources and exploring a wider range of perspectives.
The readability and timeliness are commendable, making the article accessible and relevant to readers planning around the holiday. However, the lack of engagement and depth in exploring cultural or religious aspects limits its potential impact and controversy. Overall, the article is a reliable source of information for those seeking to understand how Good Friday affects daily life, but it could benefit from a deeper exploration of the holiday's broader significance.
RATING DETAILS
The article accurately presents the date of Good Friday as April 18, 2025, aligning with multiple sources confirming this date. It correctly states that Good Friday is not a federal holiday in the United States, a fact supported by the Office of Personnel Management's federal holiday schedule. The article also accurately identifies that Good Friday is a public holiday in certain states like Connecticut and New Jersey, where state government offices close, which is consistent with state holiday observances.
The description of Good Friday's religious significance as a holy day for Christians marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is correctly portrayed, as is its placement within Holy Week. The operational status of the USPS, UPS, and FedEx on Good Friday is accurately reported, with these services confirmed to be available.
However, there could be more precise information regarding the variability of school closures, as the article generalizes that most schools are closed, which may not apply universally. Overall, the article's facts are well-supported and precise, meriting a high accuracy score.
The article maintains a balanced perspective by focusing on the operational status of various services on Good Friday without displaying bias towards any particular viewpoint. It provides a straightforward account of what is open or closed, catering to a general audience interested in practical information about the holiday's impact on daily activities.
While the article primarily addresses the logistical aspects of Good Friday, it does not delve into the cultural or religious significance beyond a basic explanation. This omission could be seen as a lack of depth in exploring different perspectives. However, given the article's purpose, the focus on service availability is appropriate and balanced within that context.
The article is well-structured and uses clear, straightforward language to convey information about the status of services on Good Friday. It follows a logical flow, beginning with a brief explanation of Good Friday's significance and then detailing the operational status of various services such as postal services, banks, and schools.
The tone is neutral and informative, making it easy for readers to understand the practical implications of the holiday. The use of subheadings helps organize the content, allowing readers to quickly find relevant information. Overall, the article's clarity is a strong point, facilitating easy comprehension for the audience.
The article relies on information from authoritative sources such as the Office of Personnel Management for the federal holiday schedule and official websites for USPS, UPS, and FedEx operations. However, it does not explicitly cite these sources within the text, which could enhance its credibility.
The lack of direct citations or links to external sources limits the transparency of the information presented. While the sources inferred are reliable, providing explicit attribution would improve the article's source quality by allowing readers to verify the claims independently.
The article provides clear information about the operational status of services on Good Friday, but it lacks explicit transparency regarding the sources of its information. It does not disclose the methodology used to gather information, such as whether this was based on direct communication with service providers or derived from publicly available schedules.
Additionally, while it mentions the religious significance of Good Friday, it does not explore potential biases or conflicts of interest, such as the impact of religious observance on reporting. Greater transparency in these areas would enhance the article's credibility and allow readers to better assess the reliability of the information.
Sources
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