The best Labor Day sales 2018: here come the deals

While technically the last of day of summer is September 22, for many the season ends on Labor Day. Symbolically, the three-day weekend is summer's last hurrah, and as with any holiday weekend, it is marked by Labor Day sales. As you might expect, it is a great time to get deals on seasonal items as stores make one last big shove to clear out the shelves. Expect dramatic discounts on everything summer-related, but you will see the biggest price drops on summer clothing. You can expect deals from such retailers as:

Otherwise, expect discounts on patio furniture and grills. Indeed, it's the best time of the year to buy a grill, with retailers like Lowe's and Ace Hardware offering more than half-off list prices. It's also a good time to replace your mattress if you need to do so. If last year is any indication, expect stores like Walmart and Sears to take up to 60% of their stock of mattresses. And as this is the last big shopping weekend for some time, don't expect to see sales like these again until Black Friday.

When will Labor Day sales begin?

While Labor Day isn't until September 3, you can expect to see Labor Day sales well in advance of that date. In fact, by the time you read this, many such sales will already be in full swing, and those that aren't, will be by the Friday before, August 31.