Burger ingredient costs up 19% May 18

NBC4 Columbus reported on May 18 that the cost of burger ingredients for Memorial Day cookouts had risen 19% from a year earlier, adding to pressure from higher gasoline prices ahead of the holiday weekend. The station said bread, tomatoes and bacon were also more expensive, extending the increase beyond beef alone. CNN Underscored, in a separate Memorial Day deals roundup published May 18, listed a $200 discount on Ninja’s FlexFlame ProConnect grill. AAA Mid States said 39.1 million people are expected to drive over Memorial Day weekend, with pump prices above last year’s holiday level. ### How much more are shoppers paying for a burger cookout? NBC4 Columbus said on May 18 that burger ingredient costs were up 19% from the same period last year. The report tied the increase to broader grocery inflation hitting households as they prepare for Memorial Day gatherings. The same NBC4 report said bread, tomatoes and bacon had also become more expensive. (nbc4i.com) That means the higher bill is not limited to ground beef, but includes several of the standard items used in a typical backyard burger spread. ### Which items are driving the increase beyond beef? Bread, tomatoes and bacon were specifically named by NBC4 Columbus as higher-cost items in its May 18 report. (nbc4i.com) The station did not publish a full itemized basket in the search excerpt, but it said the increase was broad enough to affect the overall cost of assembling burgers for the holiday weekend. CBS News’ 2026 price tracker separately said it was tracking changes in food and other household costs using Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price data, underscoring that food inflation remains a live issue for consumers this spring. ### How are gas prices adding to the Memorial Day squeeze? AAA Mid States said in its 2026 Memorial Day travel forecast that 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car between Thursday and Monday of the holiday weekend. (nbc4i.com) The group said drivers are paying more at the pump than they did over Memorial Day last year, when the national average for regular gasoline was $3.17 a gallon. (cbsnews.com) NBC4 Columbus also framed the grocery increase alongside higher gas prices, saying the combination could lead some households to rethink travel or spending plans for the weekend. ### Are there any Memorial Day grill deals that offset the higher food bill? CNN Underscored included a $200 discount on Ninja’s FlexFlame ProConnect grill in its May 18 Memorial Day sales list, according to the source briefing. (midstates.aaa.com) A separate product listing and deal coverage surfaced the same markdown, showing the grill at $1,099.99 from a $1,300 list price. (nbc4i.com) SharkNinja’s product page describes the FlexFlame ProConnect as a connected outdoor cooking system, while Amazon’s listing identifies it as a 5-in-1 grill and smoker. Those product details do not change the food bill, but they show retailers are using Memorial Day promotions to compete for seasonal grill buyers. ### What should shoppers watch before the holiday weekend starts? (9to5toys.com) May 18 was the date of NBC4 Columbus’s report on burger ingredient costs, and Memorial Day travel is expected to build from Thursday through Monday, according to AAA Mid States. Shoppers comparing costs this week are likely to see both grocery prices and fuel costs factor into the total cost of hosting. (sharkninja.com) CNN Underscored’s Memorial Day sales list and retailer product pages remain the main places to check whether grill discounts such as the $200 Ninja offer are still available before the holiday weekend begins. (9to5toys.com) (nbc4i.com)