McDonald's, fast food chains respond to backlash over rising prices

MORE CREATIVE WITH THEIR MENUS, CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING. ONCE UPON A TIME, A FEW DOLLARS COULD PURCHASE A QUICK MEAL. BUT THESE DAYS GRABBING A BURGER AND FRIES TAKES A MUCH BIGGER BITE ABOUT YOUR WALLET. >> WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT THESE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS GOING UP, TOO? >> ALMOST $9 FOR A BIG MAC. >> Reporter: ONCE HOME TO THE DOLLAR MENU, PRICES AT THE GOLDEN ARCHES LEAVING A BAD TASTE IN THE MOUTH OF CONSUMERS WHO JUST WANT VALUE. GOING VIRAL, THE BIG MAC MEAL PRICED AT $18 AT A CONNECTICUT REST STOP AND AN EGG McMUFFIN SELLING FOR MORE THAN $7. McDONALD'S CEO SAYS HE'S FOCUSSING ON AFFORDABILITY THIS YEAR. >> ONLY $3. >> Reporter: TELLING ANALYSTS, THE CUSTOMERS MAKING $45,000 A YEAR AND LESS ARE DITCHING THEIR McDONALD'S AND BUYS GROCERIES INSTEAD. YOU CAN SEE WHY. THE PRICE OF FOOD AT HOME ROSE JUST 1.3% OVER THE PAST YEAR. BUT FOOD AWAY FROM HOME JUMPED MORE THAN 5%. >> THEY'RE HERE, McDONALD'S BEST BURGERS EVER. >> Reporter: BRANDS LIKE McDONALD'S ROLLING OUT UPGRADES AND HOPING ITS NEW COSMIC'S FRANCHISE WILL BRING CUSTOMERS BACK. >> ONE WAY THEY CAN FIND THEMSELVES GOING BACK ON THE DOOR OF THOSE QSR FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS IS FINDING OUT WHAT BROUGHT THEM THERE TO BEGIN WITH. McDONALD'S DID THIS LAST YEAR. THEY STARTED TO BRING NOSTALGIA BACK. >> Reporter: AND TACO BELL EXPANDING ITS VALUE MEAL TO 10 ITEMS UNDER $3. THE COMPANY REMAINS DEDICATED TO OFFERING OUR FANS DELICIOUS FOOD AT AFFORDABLE PRICES. SALES ROSE IN THE QUARTER, DESPITE THAT 3% HIKE OF MANY PRICES IN OCTOBER. IT ALL MEANS FINDING THE BEST DEAL WILL REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF PLANNING. >> MOST MENUS THESE DAYS DO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S CONSIDERED A VALUE MENU OR A VALUE OPTION. BUT YOU DO PROBABLY BENEFIT MORE FROM DOING YOUR RESEARCH AHEAD OF TIME. >> Reporter: OKAY. ALL THOSE PICTURES ARE MAKING ME HUNGRY IN THE MORNING. McDONALD'S TELLING US THAT PRICING IS UP TO FRANCHISEE AND CAN VARY BY RESTAURANT. WE REACHED OUT TO CHIPOTLE FOR COMMENT AND DID NOT HEAR BACK. >> YOU'RE HUNGRY? >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE $250 WORTH OF BREAKFAST. APART FROM DOWNLOADING THE APPS AND GETTING DEALS, POINTS, ANYTHING ELSE PEOPLE CAN DO TO SAVE? >> SOME OF THESE FAST FOOD COMPANIES ARE BUNDLING AND OFFERING DEALS. TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THAT'S A CHEAPER WAY TO DO IT. SOME EXPERTS RECOMMENDED KIDS' MEALS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BIG APPETITE. YOU KNOW, KIDS' MEALS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME. IF I'M GOING TO GO TO FAST FOOD, I'M GOING TO EAT FAST FOOD. THE THING ABOUT THE $18 BIG MAC THAT WENT VIRAL, THAT'S ONE STORE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF LEEWAY. IF YOU HAVE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. >> IF YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT, YOUR WATER BOTTLE IS $16. >> FIND SOMETHING ELSE. BUT IT IS INTERESTING TO ME THAT GROCERY PRICES IN SOME CASES ARE FALLING. FAST FOOD PRICES ARE RISING. AND THESE CEOs, THEY KNOW IT. THEY'RE HEARING THESE COMPLAINTS, AND THEY WILL BE FOCUSSING ON VALUE. LOOK AT ALL THE VALUE ITEMS ON THE FAST FOOD MENU. >> I DO LIKE THEIR MEXICAN PIZZA TACO. >> THANK YOU. >> EAT UP. YOU WILL HAVE LIKE 14 MEXICAN PIZZAS DELIVERED TO YOU TODAY FROM TACO BELL. WHAT DO YOU LIKE, AL? >> I LIKE THESE? >> SAUSAGE OR PLAIN? >> WELL, EITHER ONE. >> TO THE CREW. >> THERE YOU GO. OKAY, GUYS. THERE YOU GO. >> IT'S THE CREW PITCHING THESE FAST FOOD STORIES. >> THERE YOU GO, OKAY. ANTHONY, ANTHONY THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO. OH, MY GOSH. THERE'S STILL ONE LEFT. NATE, THERE YOU GO, NA

Channel: TODAY

Views: 802,138

Keywords: Al Roker, Entertainment, Food, Health, Hoda Kotb, Home, International News, Money, Natalie Morales, Savannah Gutherie, Sports, Style, Today, Today Show, breaking news, concerts, domestic news, interviews, media, parents, pets, politics, shopping, weather

Id: ocvwl9UQSjA

Length: 4min 28sec (268 seconds)

Published: Wed Feb 07 2024