General Discussion

during the Covid epidemic was a price hike to rip off Americans who couldn't eat out as much. They were greedy and always will be.

"McDonald’s recorded a 3.6% decline in U.S. same-store sales in the first quarter of 2025, which was partially driven by a 10% decrease in visits from low- and middle-income households. The chain’s average cost for a menu item jumped 40% from 2019 to 2024, which McDonald’s has said aligns with meeting higher wages, cost increases and pricier foods. CEO Christopher Kempczinski told investors in McDonald’s third quarter earnings call that traffic from lower-income diners dropped “nearly double digits” industry-wide, noting higher grocery and apparel prices “affecting their outlook and their sentiment and their spending behavior.” However, the chain is scoring some wins despite the challenge, as Kempczinski said McDonald’s logged a 5.5% jump in sales growth in the fourth quarter, contributing to $140 billion in systemwide sales in 2025."