Memorial Day grilling: propane flat, sales live

ABC7 New York reported Friday that propane prices have stayed flat heading into Memorial Day weekend, giving backyard grillers one notable cost that has not risen with food prices. The station said meat, fruit and vegetables are all costing more this year, but propane has remained unchanged for holiday cookouts. The report paired that with a local shopper’s example of a brisket plate that now costs $21, up from $13 five years ago. Separate Memorial Day shopping coverage from NBC Select and KSBW said deals are now available on grills, patio furniture and some home and outdoor gear. ### If groceries are up, what part of the cookout budget is holding steady? ABC7 New York said Friday that propane prices have stayed flat, making grill fuel one of the steadier line items for Memorial Day weekend. The station framed that against broader increases in food costs, including meat, produce and other cookout staples. A local shopper interviewed by ABC7 said a sliced brisket plate now costs $21, compared with $13 five years ago. That anecdote was used in the report to illustrate how barbecue food costs have moved higher even as propane did not. ### How much are holiday cookout ingredients rising elsewhere? (abc7ny.com) ConsumerAffairs reported Friday that beef prices are rising ahead of Memorial Day because of low cattle supply and high demand, pushing some shoppers toward cheaper grilling options. USA Today also reported Thursday that people staying home for the holiday weekend would still face higher food costs. (abc7ny.com) Scripps News reported Thursday, citing an analysis it reviewed, that barbecue staples such as burgers, hot dogs and watermelon were up an average of 13% in 2026 from a year earlier. That broader inflation picture helps explain why flat propane prices stand out in local coverage. (consumeraffairs.com) ### What is actually on sale this Memorial Day weekend? NBC Select reported this week that Memorial Day remains a strong shopping window for seasonal home and outdoor goods, including patio furniture, grills and cooling appliances. In a separate sales roundup published Friday, NBC Select also highlighted discounts across home appliances and other categories for the holiday weekend. (scrippsnews.com) KSBW’s site this week also featured Memorial Day and backyard-sale coverage tied to outdoor furniture and grills. One KSBW page highlighted early Memorial Day sales on brand-name grills, while other KSBW deal coverage pointed shoppers toward patio furniture and Walmart backyard markdowns. ### Why are retailers pushing grill and patio deals now? NBC Select said Memorial Day is early enough in the warm-weather season that retailers are still promoting summer categories before peak-season pricing fully sets in. (nbcnews.com) Stephanie Carls, a retail insights expert at RetailMeNot quoted by NBC Select, said seasonal home and outdoor goods are a category where retailer inventory and shopper demand line up during the holiday. (ksbw.com) KSBW’s deal coverage similarly positioned outdoor grills and patio furniture as timely holiday purchases tied to summer demand. The promotions are appearing as households balance higher grocery bills against one-off spending on equipment that can be used across the season. ### What should shoppers watch over the next few days? May 22 is the start of the heaviest Memorial Day weekend promotions, and NBC Select said more retailers are expected to keep rolling out sales over the next few days. (nbcnews.com) ABC7 New York’s report suggests the immediate cookout math is split: food prices are higher, but propane remains steady. (ksbw.com) Memorial Day falls on May 25 this year, and the live shopping categories named in current coverage include grills, patio furniture, cooling gear and small appliances. NBC Select and KSBW both said those deals are available now as consumers make final purchases for the holiday weekend. (nbcnews.com) (abc7ny.com)