McDonald’s is battling 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 had doubled since 2019 were false. McDonald’s said the average U.S. Big Mac cost $4.39 in 2019 and now costs $5.29, an increase of 20.5%.
“For a brand that proudly serves nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population each year, we feel it is our responsibility to ensure the real facts are available,” Erlinger said.
Erlinger acknowledged that he and many franchisees were frustrated by an article on X last summer about a Big Mac meal in Connecticut that cost $18, calling the price an “exception.” He noted that franchisees own and operate 95% of McDonald’s locations in the United States and set their own prices, but “work hard to minimize the impact of price increases.”
The average price in the United States for a Big Mac meal, which includes a sandwich, fries and a drink, is currently $9.29.
Still, the Chicago burger giant said the cost of some items has seen price increases larger than those of the Big Mac. The average price of medium fries was $2.29 in 2019 and is now $3.29, an increase of 44%.
McDonald’s said the average price of all menu items has increased 40% over the past five years, representing an average 40% increase in the cost of labor, paper and food . That’s higher than overall consumer prices, which have risen 21% since December 2019, according to government figures.
McDonald’s saw a marked slowdown in store traffic in the first three months of this year as customers weary of inflation in the United States and other major markets ate out less often. As a result, the company promised more deals.
Next month, McDonald’s is expected to offer a $5 meal deal in the United States that will include a sandwich, a four-piece McNugget, small fries and a small drink.
Erlinger said he hopes customers find the company’s upcoming offerings “meaningful.”
“It is clear that we, as well as our franchisees, must remain focused on value and affordability,” Erlinger said.
ABC News
