Several speculations surfaced online that a meal of McDonald's world-famous burger Big Mac would cost $18 in recent months.
McDonald's U.S. President Joe Erlinger released a statement debunking the false claims to address these claims, where he acknowledged the viral social posts and poorly sourced reports of the purported raised prices.
"This is inaccurate," Erlinger wrote. "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."
McDonald's Debunks Rumors With Facts
Erlinger addressed frustration over the rumor that a Big Mac meal would cost $18, even if it was just one location out of its 13,700 stores across the U.S.
However, what he found more worrying was how people believed the prices have risen by 100% from 2019.
To set things straight, Erlinger disclosed that the price of a Big Mac in the U.S. was $4.39 five years ago, making its current price of $5.29 only a 21% increase since then.
He attributed this price hike to factors such as the pandemic, inflation, and the historic rises in supply chain costs.
"Our franchisees (who own and operate more than 95% of all restaurants in the U.S.) set menu prices for their restaurants, which account for the increased costs of running their businesses. In doing so, they work hard to minimize the impact of price increases on our fans," Erlinger added.
To conclude his letter, Erlinger said prices are expected to be an area of conversion and focus in the months to come. He invited readers to download the McDonald's app to stay updated with the changing prices.
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