There was a time when “Fast Food” was synonymous with “cheap food”, but that's not always the case now Increased inflation. Of course, driving dinner is still cheaper than sitting in Stekhouse, but prices rose in 2024 in some of the most famous fast food chains, making it less affordable than in recent years.
Especially a restaurant has doubled the price of the menu in the last decade. According to the survey conducted by Tree for loansIn which 2,000 Americans surveyed, 78% of participants say they now see fast food as a luxury, rather than a way to get a fast and inexpensive bite to eat while on the go.
The question is, will those fast food prices continue to rise in 2025? Here's all you need to know about fast food inflation, including which chains mostly raised their prices last year and what could be on the horizon.
The price of fast food increases
| McDonald's | Popeye | Taco white | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increase in price from 2014-2024 | 100% | 86% | 81% |
Source: Finance
Which fast food chains have raised their prices most in the past decade?
In the last decade, McDonald's raised its prices with an incredible 100% in the United States, making it the most increased fast food chain in the country, according to information collected by Finance. But their menu prices are not only rising in states. According to Spinal ginMcDonald's raised its prices in Canada by almost 140%.
In the United States, a quarter pound with a cheese meal cost $ 5.39 in 2014 and in 2024, it cost $ 12, finance reports. The second and third restaurant with the most inflated prices were Popeye and Taco Bell in the United States and Puna and Wendy in Canada. At Popeye in 2014, you could use the four -year -old chicken dinner for $ 7. By 2024, that price increased by 97% and now costs $ 13.79.
These results are slightly different from 2022 when Wendy and Chick-A had the highest inflation rate And Burger King's chicken fries fries were inflated menu items across all chains.
According to a new LendingTree survey, 46% of participants said they now believe that prices in their local fast -food restaurants are now in line with sitting restaurants. It is surprising that 22% of those participants believe that fast food is actually now higher Price compared.
What causes inflation of fast food?
Inflation in fast -food restaurants is a “multilayer phenomenon”, Valerie sourcesAn assistant professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, told Fenn.
Kilders cited an increased minimum wage for low -wage workers and “raising general food prices” as two major factors that contribute to rising fast food prices.
“After a pandemic, we saw that the lowest salary workers, which include those who usually work in fast -food restaurants, saw the fastest wage growth,” Kilders explained, further adding that from January 2024 to January 2025, “cattle prices rose by 20.6%and 15%. Eggs are even 183%, so we see these big supplements in these two categories. “
“Increased prices for operators are being transferred to consumers,” she added.
How Egg prices continue to riseEconomists point to bird flu As an associate of heavenly egg prices we see in groceries and restaurant menus. This week, The big US tariffs against Canada and Mexico It came into force under the Trump administration and they could make even more prices in grocery store and beyond.
Although President Donald Trump has said that the country importing the goods will pay for the carried tariffs or the tax on the cases, Economists have not agreed. According to Tax baseWhen the United States imposes tariffs, US businesses pay the US government's tariff tax. Similar to fast food chains, when the company does not pay the increased prices they face, they are transferred to the consumer.
The 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada began on March 4, and the previous 10% tariff for China now doubled to 20%, according to Associated Press. According to The US Ministry of AgricultureIn 2023, 72.5% of US agricultural import came from Mexico. This includes 25% of drinks, including beer and tequila, 14% fruit, 13% of vegetables, 6% of avocado and much more.
And 63.8% of US agricultural import comes from Canada, including 19% of animal products and 12% fruits and vegetables.
According to EconomicThe Trump administration tariffs for 2018, which were then led by the Biden administration, did not lower prices for Americans.
Will prices continue to rise in fast food restaurants?
“The short answer is, it's too early to say,” Kilders said.
However, she says that not only does fast food chains raise their prices. It happens everywhere.
“If we are generally increasing (in the consumer price index) for food away from home, that increase was about 3.4% over the past year, and there is not much difference between restaurants with full service and restaurants with limited service,” Kilder explained.
Although McDonald's may seem to raise its prices more than the olive garden or chili, that's not the case. Instead, when a notorious inexpensive fast -food restaurant raises prices, it will always be more obvious to the consumer.
As for the future prospect of food prices, there are various factors to consider.
“How will labor costs develop? Will we see additional increases in food intake prices? Will we see any interventions at the level of policy that can affect all those factors that play a major role in how demand will develop, “and then, consequently, how supply and prices develop. “
According to The prospect of USAA's food priceQuoted by Kilders, it is believed that the consumption of food at home will increase about 3.3% over the next year, meaning that the seamerians will decide to skip driving through or sit down and cook at home in an attempt to save a few dollars