Home » Blogs » Memorial Day 2026: The Cost of the Cookout

As Memorial Day approaches, shoppers nationwide are preparing for one of the biggest grilling weekends of the year. From burgers and hot dogs to buns and barbecue staples, holiday gatherings come with a shopping list. This year, consumers may be wondering how the cost of those essentials compares to last year. 

Datasembly analyzed the prices of popular items from brands like Heinz, Tyson Foods, and  Bar-S for the week ending May 16, 2026, comparing them to the same period in 2025. Here is what we found. 

Key Price Changes Across Popular BBQ Items 

For Memorial Day 2026, the total cost of a classic barbecue basket has increased by 9.6%. This is a notable jump compared to the 3.4% increase observed last year. Rising beef prices are the primary driver of this year-over-year increase, with other key essentials also trending upward. Only one item is slightly more affordable this year, contributing to a larger overall increase than the year prior. 

Notable Price Increases 

  • Beef hot dogs: up 18.3%, from $4.14 to $5.07 
  • Fresh ground beef: up nearly 15.0%, from $7.89 to $9.28 
  • Soda: up 11.4%, from $10.49 to $11.84 
  • Barbecue sauce: up 11.6%, from $4.88 to $5.33 

The Only Item Showing a Price Decline 

.In contrast to last year, when multiple products saw price decreases, only one item declined this year: chicken thighs, which decreased by 1.1%. 

What Do These Changes Mean? 

For retailers and CPGs, understanding these shifts in near real time at the local level is critical. Price increases in key categories like hot dogs and soda may influence consumer purchasing decisions, potentially driving shoppers toward more affordable options such as private label brands. .  

How Datasembly Can Help  

Datasembly’s real-time pricing insights give CPGs and retailers the data they need to make informed decisions, from pricing strategies to promotional planning. Want to know how your brand compares? Contact us to learn how our data can help you stay ahead of the competition.  

Stay tuned for more insights as we continue to monitor and analyze pricing trends throughout the year. 

Previous Blog Post