Fast food was always considered the inexpensive meal alternative when people wanted to grab something on the go or simply skip making dinner for the evening. The population fast became hooked on take-out like Wendy’s, Mcdonald’s, and KFC. And while we would think the biggest impact it would have would be on your health, it may also be on your wallet.
With the US inflation hitting a whopping 8.2% earlier in the year, it’s safe to say that everything right now comes at an inflated price tag. Even though it dropped back down to 7.7% in October. Working remotely has led to a slightly more sedate generation with many citizens remaining at home. And many are opting to stay in and order takeout rather than cooking.
If you had to go back and calculate how much of your earnings were spent on fast food, you would very likely gasp at the small fortune you’ve practically given away. We don’t want to admit it, but many of us are hooked. The convenience is sometimes just way too good to pass down.
A survey done by Pricelisto found that comparative menu prices have generally increased by up to 12.9% between September 2021 and October 2022. McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Chick-fil-A all made the list, being the most popular names in the business. You won’t believe who claimed the number-one spot this year. Wendy’s.
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Burger King sat down this year, giving Wendy’s the number one spot for most expensive fast food outlet
Wendy’s notoriously earned the title of “Most Expensive” this year, knocking Burger King down. A whopping 35% increase in prices saw them snowballing into first place. A Baconator burger alone costs almost $10 – a staggering price for a very simple menu item that is much cheaper at similar outlets.
Chick-fil-A claimed second place, displaying an average increase of 15.6% over their menu items. Taco Bell took third place at a 14.6% increase. Surprisingly, Burger King saw a much lower increase at just 2% – a staggeringly low figure in comparison. The winner? McDonald’s somehow managed to lower their prices and ended on a cool 5% drop in costs instead.
“With the busy lives we lead, turning to fast food is the easiest option for many people. It is interesting to see how chains have responded to the rise in inflation and shipping costs for their ingredients,” a Pricelisto spokesperson said. “The price of wages, transportation, and energy all contribute to a higher end price for the consumer but larger chains such as McDonald’s are able to mitigate this with brand deals and bulk buying.”
Actual menu items were scrutinized too
Burger King’s Chicken Fries actually saw the highest climb at a 16% increase. The price of Chick-fil-A’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich also climbed remarkably at a 10% increase from the previous year. The McDonald’s Big Mac only increased by 17 cents, but the Egg McMuffin saw a 22 cents increase.
The Burger King Whopper has gone down by 27 cents and the Double Whopper by 39 cents. With the biggest overall price increase, Wendy’s actually saw a few items reduced in price. The Baconator actually dropped in price and the Spicy Chicken was down in price by 12 cents – so it’s not all bad.
Tac Bell’s Soft Tacos actually dropped in price along with their Crunchy Tacos, respectively 49 cents and 48 cents cheaper than the previous period. The Crunchwrap Supreme and the Nachos BellGrande also saw a decrease in pricing by over a dollar as well. So it seems that as long as one shops smart, one can still enjoy that occasional fast food craving.
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