As Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start of summer, be prepared to pay more if you’re planning to host a backyard barbecue. Beef prices are up 16% from this time last year, hot dogs are up 11%, seasonings and spices are up 4%, and tomatoes are up 40%. “As we all know, everythi ng’s smaller and everything’s more expensive,” Ricardo Ballin of San Jose said. “The bags of charcoal, you used to be able to struggle carrying them. Now you pick up two bags and I think it was like $15.” NBC Bay Area’s Scott Budman has more in the video report above. ...read more read less