Inflation has reduced demand for fast food, leading to price increases across the country as families look for easy options to feed their families.
The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the so-called fast-food index put annual inflation in the sector at 4.8 percent.
The BLS also found that prices at “limited service restaurants” have increased 47% since 2014.
Fast food has become a staple of the American diet, and price increases at drive-thru restaurants could have a big impact.
A 2018 CDC survey found that 36.6% of adults consumed fast food on a given day between 2013 and 2016. Market research firm Drive Research reported that in 2023, 65% of respondents eat fast food once a week.
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A team of USA TODAY reporters looked into the prices of combo menu items at the nation's top five burger chains.
Here's what we found:
What is inflation? What causes it? What is its definition and what does the latest report mean?
How have fast food prices increased over the past decade?
Carl's Jr. and Hardee's saw their prices more than double between 2014 and 2024. Wendy's followed suit, nearly doubling its prices over the same period.
How do burger prices compare across the country?
The USA Today team surveyed McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Carl's Jr./Hardy's and Five Guys restaurants in 18 markets across the U.S. The team asked customers the pre-tax price of a medium-sized specialty cheese combo at the restaurants.
The most affordable Big Mac combo was in Houston, Texas, where a medium meal cost $7.89.
Meanwhile, Seattle residents will pay about $15 for a Big Mac combo.
Wendy's is one of the most affordable fast-food restaurants in the U.S. In downtown Columbus, Ohio, a Wendy's Dave's Cheeseburger combo costs $9.29, the cheapest among 18 cities surveyed by USA TODAY reporters.
Among the 15+ cities surveyed, the most expensive combo was a cheeseburger, regular fries and a drink at Five Guys in Chicago.
What was the average price of each fast food restaurant's specialty menu item?
A look at 2014 prices (taken from a menu on the website fastfoodmenuprices.com, which is on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine) reveals that 10 years ago, Carls Jr./Hardees had the cheapest signature menu item, with the quarter-pound thick burger combo going for $5.29 (the closest price to the Famous Star combo).The website uses a single data point, while USA TODAY's comparison is an average.
