McDonald’s is reportedly preparing to introduce a $5 meal plan to lure back low-income customers priced out of its Golden Arches amid soaring menu prices. A Big Mac costs $18, and a side of hash browns is included for $6.
The affordable menu could include a McChicken or McDouble with fries and a drink, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity.
For reference, the McChicken at McDonald’s in Times Square costs him $5.59 just for the sandwich, which includes a breaded chicken patty, shredded lettuce, and mayonnaise.
However, a McDouble with two beef patties, cheese, pickles, and diced onions is available to him at the same McDonald’s location in midtown Manhattan for $5.79.
If you weren’t on the $5 meal plan, a McDouble with the same ingredients (sandwich, fries, and drink) would cost a hefty $13.47.
At $5, that’s almost a 63% cost difference.
It was not immediately clear which of the more than 13,500 McDonald’s locations in the United States would launch the $5 meal plan, or when.
Rumors of affordable meals arose after McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors that diners would It emerged after he said “laser-focused on affordability” in light of price fatigue.
Cutting costs isn’t a priority for McDonald’s this year, as about half of the states in the U.S., including New York and California, have begun raising minimum wages to $16 an hour.
But on April 1, the Golden State also implemented a rule requiring fast food workers to be paid $20 an hour.
To offset rising labor costs, several franchisees across the United States are increasing menu prices. That includes McDonald’s owner Scott Rodrick, who has already raised menu prices by 7% at the 18 restaurants he owns and is now considering doing so to shorten stores. He said he is doing so. opening hours.
At a store in Connecticut, a customer is also angry after discovering the new Big Mac costs more than his $18. An Egg McMuffin costs him a whopping $7.29, and a serving of hash browns for hungry diners costs him $5.69.
Some people have expressed outrage over the fact that McDonald’s popular $1, $2 and $3 menu items don’t actually have $1 written on them.
Overall, the Chicago-based burger joint has reduced menu prices by 100% over the past 10 years, according to a study by Finance Buzz that reported average prices across the country. This is more than three times the US inflation rate.
FinanceBuzz reported that his price for a Quarter Pounder with Cheese is $11.99. This is more than double his $5.39 in 2014.
McDonald claimed that this report was inaccurate.
As the price of McDonald’s meals increased, so did the rate of inflation. The consumer price index, which measures changes in the cost of daily goods and services, rose at an annual rate of 3.5% in March.
Representatives for McDonald’s did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.