Your June 7 editorial, “Note to Biden on inflation: It’s the Big Macs, stupid,” contained inaccuracies. As the senior vice president and chief impact officer of North America for McDonald’s USA, I want to set the record straight and address these inaccuracies.
First and foremost, we, along with our franchisees, are committed to providing families with value and affordable options. The editorial cited data from a study claiming that McDonald’s prices have doubled since 2014, which is not true. We have recently published accurate information on our website to address these misleading claims.
Contrary to the study’s findings, McDonald’s overall price increases over the past five years are directly related to the rising costs of running restaurants. The editorial stated that the average price of a Big Mac is $5.99, up from $4.39 in 2019. However, the current average price is actually $5.29. Similarly, the current price of medium fries is not $3.79, as mentioned in the editorial, but $3.29, up from $2.29 in 2019.
If readers want to learn more about our commitment to providing value to our customers, they can read the open letter from McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger on our website.
In conclusion, it is important to fact-check information before making claims about a company’s pricing strategies. We remain dedicated to our mission of offering affordable and delicious options for families across America.
Thank you,
Michael Gonda
Chicago
Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer of North America for McDonald’s USA
As additional information, it is essential for consumers to understand the factors that contribute to price changes at fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s. Factors such as inflation, labor costs, and supply chain disruptions can all impact menu prices. By providing transparent information about price adjustments, McDonald’s aims to maintain trust and loyalty with its customers. It is also worth noting that McDonald’s continues to innovate its menu offerings and sustainability efforts to meet the evolving needs of its customer base.