Buying meat for Labor Day grill? Check prices here

News is change.

So when we report highlights from our Market Basket survey of 30 standard grocery items at five local supermarkets we often focus on what has changed week to week.

That's why you see a lot about produce and meat in our reports. As products that depend on freshness, their prices seem to be more volatile than the items on the shelves in between them.

So with Labor Day weekend marking an end to the cultural season we call summer, if not the climatic season, we have a lot of information for you carnivores.

One example of the yo-yo that is meat prices: Since July 15, the price for a pound of ribeye steak has been as low as $5.59 and as high as $11.24.

Fire up the grill and read on.

And click here to see how meat prices and all prices compare store-to-store during the 50 weeks of our survey.

Publix

Some of the best deals at Publix this week continue to be meat, meat and more meat.

Pork spare ribs are $1.79 per pound, save $1.20. Purdue chicken breasts are almost half off at $2.99, save $2. Lloyd's prepared barbecue meat tubs are BOGO, save $5.49.

Ball Park Beef franks are BOGO, save $4.19. Extra large white shrimp are half off, $4.99 per pound, save $5. Party rings of shrimp are BOGO, save $11.99. And a Publix deli meat "wheel" sandwich for parties are $9.99, save $4.

If you need Pepsi, buy two 12-packs and you get two free, save $9.78.

Richard Mullins

Walmart

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market has other grilling options on sale, in addition to the ones we've been tracking all summer.

Fireside Gourmet black angus steak burgers are $6 for a 2-pound package. Additional varieties include bacon and cheddar, Vidalia onion and beef patties.

Frozen chicken leg quarters are 10 pounds for only $5.48 and Bar-S jumbo franks are $1 for a 1-pound package.

Also, Johnsonville bratwurst is $2.83 a pound.

Janine Dorsey

Winn-Dixie

Here are three deals to get your grill started: bone-in ribeye steaks $5.99 a pound, ground chuck $1.99 a pound, and Ball Park hot dogs on a two-for-one special at $2.99.

Save room over the coals for a few ears of sweet corn, which are 25 cents an ear. Five-pound bags of red, white or yellow potatoes are on a two-for-one special this week, at $4.99 - perfect if you're making potato salad for a big group

On the sweeter side, large seedless watermelons are selling for $3.99. Cantaloupes are BOGO, at $2.99, as are 48-ounce cartons of Breyers ice cream, at $5.99.

Jeff Scullin

Sweetbay

Ground chuck is $2.60 a pound this week, 60 cents off last week's price, and the ribeye steak is $6.99, $4 lower than it's been.

Egg prices shot back up to $1.49, the pendulum of Pepsi prices swung back to its high of $1.50 for a 2-liter bottle, but otherwise, nothing changed among the items we measure.

Dennis Joyce

Target

Someone at Target must have read this week's story about baby carrot producers trying to muscle their way into snack packs everywhere.

Target's produce managers have put baby carrots on prominent display, both in their cooler and on produce bins.

Earthbound Farms organic carrots are $1.69 a pound and Green Giant brand is $1.49 a pound on sale.

And corn is now 20 cents an ear, half price.

Kevin Wiatrowski