iirc from their last financials hearings, revenue from lower class orders have dropped significantly, however thr median buyer group has started to spend more to offset those losses. mcdonalds I think had 2% growth suprisingly while the rest of the industry floundered.

basically it's people who wont pick a better place to get food proping mcdonalds

If you want cheap food, Costco food court is where it's at. 15 bucks (if that) for a large meal, a drink, and some kind of dessert.

they shrinkflationed thier food, and they never went back.

I read that the upper/middle class has started going to fast food more because they can’t afford the lunches/dinners they used to get.

If you use the app, you can get a large Ice Tea and a Large Fries for $2.20 including tax. That’s all I ever get there, once a month or so. They gotta be losing money on that deal. I’m slowly putting them out of business. You’re welcome.

Prices are high everywhere, so while it's way more expensive than it was, McDonald's is still pretty much the cheapest option.

A large value meal costs ~$9, and there is a 20% discount for using the app at $15, so if 2 people go or you bring some home it's ~$7. Every $60 you spend nets you free happy meal too.

Meanwhile a local place charges $20 for a burger and fries, no drink, before tip. The grocery store is up to $8.99 a pound for hamburger meat, so while it is still cheaper to make it yourself, by the time you include cooking ingredients it's pretty comparable.