When Do We Turn Back the Clocks?

By Rebecca McCarthy and Roberto Scalese

When do we turn the clocks back? Daylight Saving Time in 2013 ends in the United States on Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m..

You will be setting your clock back one hour, following the adage of “spring forward, fall back.” The “extra” hour gives you a chance to catch up on the sleep you lost in March when the clocks moved forward and Daylight Saving Time began.

The federal government doesn’t require states to adopt Daylight Saving Time. Massachusetts, like most of the rest of the United States, observes it. But that inconsistent application can cause scheduling headaches across the states and with other countries, as explains YouTube darling CGPGrey in his popular "Daylight Saving Time Explained" video.

In an effort to save resources during World War II, the U.S. made daylight saving time mandatory for the whole country. And it was observed the entire year. But Arizona and Hawaii do not observe Daylight Saving Time. Indiana famously changes clocks depending on the county you were in, though the state now follows the time shift.

Some studies have shown that extending Daylight Saving Time results in a reduction in energy consumption; other studies suggest just the opposite. The difference in either direction is small, however. There are some productivity costs in the Spring, when Daylight Saving time starts. The resulting sleep deprivation costs the U.S. economy up to $434 million, according to one index cited by The Huffington Post.

What do you think? Should Daylight Saving Time be abolished? Extended? Do you think it saves money or costs money in the long run? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.