McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
In a post on the company’s website Wednesday, McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger said reports suggesting the price of the average Big Mac has doubled since 2019 were false. McDonald’s said the average U.S. Big Mac was $4.39 in 2019 and now costs $5.29, a 20.5% increase.
Erlinger acknowledged that he and many franchisees were frustrated by a post on X last summer about a Big Mac meal in Connecticut that cost $18, calling the price “an exception.”
McDonald’s saw a marked slowdown in store traffic in the first three months of this year as inflation-weary customers in the U.S. and other big markets ate out less often.
“It’s clear that we — together with our franchisees — must remain laser-focused on value and affordability,” Erlinger said.
McDonald’s said the average price of all menu items has risen 40% over the last five years, to account for a average increase in the cost of labor, paper and food. That is higher than overall consumer prices, which have increased 21% since December 2019
Hey it’s all good, not actually doubled! The 2% cost of living adjustments should cover it. /s
You got money? I just got a pizza party.
With food costs changing as they have, you likely got more value from the pizza party. That slice of pepperoni is worth at least $8.
We haven’t doubled our prices, just doubled the inflation rate. Chill, poors.
Motherfucker acting like the price increases are modest while charging 3.29 for a fucking Hash Brown. I get it, your customers eat McDonald’s so it’s easy to assume they’re stupid, but you can be pretty fucking stupid and still realize that the total price of your meal is ridiculous.
They also ditched the $1 any size drink pricing.
Meanwhile McDonald’s CEO was paid $19.2mm last year, which was 8% higher than the year before that.
This is less than half the amount of Big Mac-flation, so it’s actually a bargain!
They’re passing the savings onto the consumers, right?
Nonetheless it’s gotten quite expensive. It made a nice post-bar snack, however there are now many better options at the price point.
They’re trading out low-value customers for high-value customers. It’s Business 101. I’ve done it with my old PC repair gig.
For the same revenue, do you want a bunch of people paying low prices or a few people paying high prices?
In any case, I’m all for higher fast-food prices. Maybe this will drive a culture shift towards healthier, less fattening food.
Problem is the price of ingredients for cooking at home have gone up too, and with the value of labor for more workers falling in comparison, the cost of cooking at home is at best keeping pace.
High value customers don’t eat at Mcdonalds.
The problem with that logic is that McDonalds has not upped the value of their product. I didn’t take Business 101, but I’m pretty sure it’d be considered bad business to try and sell the same piece of shit you’ve always sold for a higher price than you typically sell for.
The McDonald’s across from my apt building recently closed despite having a line around the corner of the block for weekend drive through in the mornings.
Probably some real estate value fuckery. The individual McDonald’s places are “restaurants”, but McDonald’s the corporation is essentially a real estate broker.
Boycott!
I got got by this location last year. Pulled off the highway and accidentally spent $19 for a quick meal.
I never go to McDonalds without using a code from the app. $2 breakfast sandwich? Cool. 20% off entire order? Cool. It’s gotten to the point that using the app is necessary to get reasonably priced food. Without it, you’re overpaying.
And that’s exactly why I don’t go there anymore.
Having to let McDonald’s into my phone via an app so that I can get less terribly priced food is a goddamn scam.
