McDonald’s exec says average menu item costs 40% more than in 2019

A top McDonald’s executive is weighing in on claims that the company has jacked up its prices.

Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, said in an open letter Wednesday that the average price of McDonald’s menu items is up around 40% since 2019. The breakdown comes in response to claims on social media from House Republicans, among others, that the fast-food company upped prices by more than 100%.

Highlights

• A top McDonald’s executive is weighing in on claims that the company has jacked up its prices by more than 100%.
• Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, said in an open letter the average price of a Big Mac meal today is up 27% from 2019. The price for a 10-piece McNuggets meal is up 28% over the same period, and the price of medium french fries increased 44%.
• McDonald’s has not been immune to long-awaited consumer pullbacks at restaurants.
• The fast-food giant will soon offer a $5 value meal for about a month.