Restaurants like Mcdonads, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, and Burger King are guilty of surging their prices as fast food chains across the country raise their prices to combat US inflation, leaving customers frustrated.
In 2019, a Mcdonalds Big Mac was priced at $3.99. Today, the same item costs $7.49, revealing a shocking 87.7% price increase. Similarly to Mcdonalds, in 2019, the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich was $3.65 at Chick-Fil-A and is currently priced at $6.55 marking a 79.5% increase, according to The Street’s article, How much have fast-food prices gone up since 2020? Price hikes at 6 popular chains.
These fast food price increases have not gone unnoticed by customers, including South Lakes students.
“They have definitely risen in the past year and the past few months,” Sophomore, Jaalya Davidson, said.
This increase can hurt Americans who don’t have the disposable income to spend on increasingly high prices, and may not have the time or resources to cook every day. A survey by Lending Tree reported that 62% of Americans have lessened their consumption of fast foods due to price increases.
“I hate the price increases, we got Mcdonalds one time and it was like the same cost as if I got a full on restaurant meal,” Sophomore, Anya Crevits, said.
To combate public outrage and bring in a larger customer base, these chains are introducing new deals, competing with each other to make the most enticing offers to American consumers.
Through September, Taco Bell is offering a Luxe craving box for $7.00 which includes a drink, three entrees, and chips with queso.
Burger King offers a similar deal for $5.00 where the customer gets an entree with 4-piece chicken nuggets, a drink, and fries. The restaurant claimed the offer was for a limited time, but the deal has been extended through October.
Fast food restaurants must deal with the consequences of raising prices with the American consumer. Meal deals may make some feel like they are getting a good deal but these discounts won’t erase the fact that they have dramatically raised prices across the board for years.
