McDonald’s Clarifies $18 Big Mac Price Exception

McDonald’s is retaliating against media coverage and viral tweets that it claims have overstated its price hikes. U.S. President of McDonald’s Joe Erlinger denied rumors that the typical Big Mac’s cost had quadrupled since 2019. McDonald’s reported the average U.S. Big Mac was $4.39 in 2019 and now costs $5.29, a 20.5% increase.

McDonald’s is retaliating against media coverage and viral tweets that it claims have overstated its price hikes.

McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger denied allegations that the average Big Mac’s price has doubled since 2019 in a post on the company’s website on Wednesday. McDonald’s reported the average U.S. Big Mac was $4.39 in 2019 and now costs $5.29, a 20.5% increase.

“For a brand that proudly serves nearly 90% of the U.S. population every year, we feel a responsibility to make sure the real facts are available,” Erlinger stated.

Erlinger admitted that a post on X last summer regarding a $18 Big Mac meal in Connecticut irritated him and many other franchisees, referring to the expense as “an exception.” He pointed out that 95% of McDonald’s restaurants in the US are owned and run by franchisees, who also determine their own prices while “working hard to minimize the impact of price increases.”

A Big Mac meal, which consists of a sandwich, fries, and a drink, presently costs $9.29 on average in the United States.

However, the massive Chicago burger chain said that several items’ prices have increased more than that of the Big Mac. The average cost of medium fries has increased by 44% from $2.29 in 2019 to $3.29 now.

In order to offset a 40% average increase in labor, paper, and food costs, McDonald’s reported that the average price of all menu items has increased by 40% during the previous five years. In comparison, government data shows that overall consumer prices have risen 21% since December 2019.

In the first three months of this year, McDonald’s noticed a noticeable decrease in store visitation as customers in the U.S. and other large markets ate out less frequently due to inflation. Consequently, the business promised more deals.

McDonald’s is anticipated to launch a $5 meal package in the United States next month, which will consist of a sandwich, a four-piece McNugget, small fries, and a small drink.

Erlinger expressed his hope that shoppers will find the company’s next offerings “meaningful.”

“It’s clear that we – together with our franchisees – must remain laser-focused on value and affordability,” Erlinger stated.

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