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HM Akhtar from the United States: The United States returned to standard time on Sunday as daylight saving time (DST) ended, with clocks being turned back by one hour across most of the country.
The annual time adjustment, observed in most US states, is designed to make better use of natural daylight by shifting an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening during the warmer months. Supporters say the arrangement helps align daily activities with daylight, encourages outdoor activities and may benefit businesses and the wider economy.
Daylight saving time is not limited to New York or any particular region. It is observed in 48 of the 50 US states, although Arizona, with the exception of the Navajo Nation, and Hawaii do not follow the practice.
The US territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands also do not observe daylight saving time.
Under the current US system, clocks are moved forward by one hour at 2:00am on the second Sunday of March, marking the beginning of daylight saving time. They are then moved back by one hour at 2:00am on the first Sunday of November, when the country returns to standard time.
In simple terms, clocks move forward in spring and go back in autumn.
In 2026, daylight saving time began on March 8 and ended on November 1. At 2:00am on Sunday, clocks were turned back to 1:00am, giving people an extra hour. Mobile phones, computers and most digital clocks adjusted automatically.
Daylight saving time remains in effect for approximately eight months, from March to November. The period lasts 238 days, accounting for about 65 per cent of the year. The remaining period, from November until the following March, is observed under standard time.
The idea of daylight saving time was first introduced in the United States in 1918 during the First World War, primarily to conserve fuel and make better use of daylight. However, the federal system was repealed in 1919 after the war.
The arrangement was reintroduced during the Second World War, when the country observed year-round daylight saving time from 1942 to 1945.
After the war, different states and localities followed varying time-change practices, creating confusion in transport, business and daily activities.
To address the problem, the US Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, establishing a common framework for daylight saving time across the country. The law allowed states to opt out of observing daylight saving time, provided they followed standard time throughout the year.
The schedule was subsequently revised under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The new arrangement came into effect in 2007, setting the current dates: the second Sunday in March for the beginning of daylight saving time and the first Sunday in November for its end.
One of the main arguments in favour of daylight saving time is that it allows people to make greater use of natural daylight in the evening, potentially stimulating economic activities.
For a large economy like the United States, the system is associated with several potential benefits.
Boost to trade and business: An additional hour of daylight in the evening gives people more opportunities to shop, visit markets and spend time at commercial establishments after work. Shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants and other retail businesses may benefit from increased customer activity.
Growth in tourism and entertainment: Longer daylight hours in the evening encourage people to visit parks, beaches, tourist attractions and recreational facilities. This can create opportunities for the tourism, hospitality, restaurant and transport industries.
Better use of working hours: The adjustment helps align office schedules, business activities and daily routines with available daylight. Industries such as construction, agriculture and other outdoor occupations may benefit from longer periods of natural light.
Potential savings in electricity consumption: Longer daylight hours in the evening may reduce the need for artificial lighting in homes and businesses. This could help lower electricity consumption. However, the actual savings remain disputed, particularly because greater use of air conditioning and other electrical appliances can offset potential reductions in lighting costs.
More social and economic activities: With more daylight after office hours, people have greater opportunities to go out with family, shop, participate in sports and attend social events. Such activities can encourage additional consumer spending and support local businesses.
However, experts caution that the economic benefits and energy savings associated with daylight saving time are not conclusive. Research has produced mixed findings, with some studies suggesting that changes in electricity consumption may offset or even outweigh savings from reduced lighting use.
Despite its perceived benefits, daylight saving time has also attracted criticism.
Changing clocks twice a year can disrupt people’s sleep patterns, daily routines and work schedules. The transition in March, when clocks move forward by one hour, is particularly challenging for some people as they adjust to losing an hour of sleep.
Critics also question whether changing clocks remains necessary in an era of modern technology and widespread use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances. They argue that maintaining a single time system throughout the year would be more convenient and would avoid the disruption caused by the twice-yearly adjustment.
Several US states have also taken legislative initiatives to make daylight saving time permanent or to adopt permanent standard time. However, under the existing federal framework, states cannot independently introduce permanent daylight saving time without congressional approval. States can, however, opt out of daylight saving time and remain on standard time throughout the year.
Daylight saving time is therefore more than a simple adjustment of clocks. It is closely linked to the US economy, trade, tourism, energy consumption and people’s lifestyles.
Despite more than a century of debate over its effectiveness and convenience, most US states continue to follow the system. Making better use of daylight to support economic and social activities remains one of the principal arguments in its favour, although questions about its actual economic and energy benefits persist.