Macca's 'sneakily' raised its prices – Here's what changed
- Replies 10
It's common knowledge that the cost of living in Australia has experienced a considerable rise in recent years. Prices for essential items like food, utilities, and transportation, along with numerous others, have all seen an upward trend. It's become the norm, so to speak.
However, there's one unexpected increase in costs that has taken us by surprise – and it's happening at none other than the popular fast-food chain McDonald's.
Daily Mail recently conducted a shocking investigation comparing McDonald's prices in March 2019 with those of June 2023 when ordering via Uber Eats and the My Maccas app.
Some popular items like the Big Mac, cheeseburger, and McChicken have seen substantial price increases. The cheeseburger, for example, cost $3.15 in 2019—now it's a whopping $5, marking a 58% increase in price!
The McChicken burger didn't fare much better, costing $5.50 in 2019 on Uber Eats and now setting customers back by $8.15, a 48% increase. When ordering through the MyMaccas app, the McChicken burger previously cost $9.60, but now it's reached a hefty $12.55, a 30% increase.
Even the simple, humble Fillet O' Fish has suffered an increase, from $5 to $7.10 on Uber Eats, a 42% increase in just under four years. Ordering the Fillet O' Fish through the My Maccas app brings the price up to $6.20, a 24% increase compared to 2019.
Trying to cool off with a soft-serve cone? In 2019, it was a mere 60 cents; now, it has shot up to $1, a staggering 66% increase. Meanwhile, McDonald's chicken nuggets have seen less of a 15% increase from $7.30 for six nuggets to $8.45.
Parents and grandparents will be disappointed to know that even Happy Meals cost more now. A cheeseburger Happy Meal on Uber Eats has gone from $5.30 in 2019 to a not-so-happy $7.55, a 42% increase. Ordering the same meal through the My Maccas app has only seen a 2% increase ($5.30 to $5.45), which may still pinch some wallets.
This price increase may vary across different stores as franchisees can adjust the prices, but it is still a surprise to many.
Reasons for price increases in the fast-food industry
We understand that it can be tempting to dismiss these financial shenanigans, but there are valid reasons behind the rising prices in the fast-food industry that we shouldn't ignore.
First and foremost, we can't overlook the global disruptions in the supply chain caused by recent events like the pandemic, labour shortages, and natural disasters. These factors have thrown many businesses into disarray as they struggle to source their ingredients from manufacturers and suppliers. With increased demand and a strained supply chain, prices are inevitably driven up.
Additionally, the cost of labour has been steadily rising in Australia over the years, with the minimum wage following an upward trajectory. Employers find themselves having to spend more and more to adequately compensate their staff, resulting in higher operational costs.
Lastly, we shouldn't disregard the improvements in food quality and the efforts to source more ethical and sustainable ingredients. There has been a surge in consumers who are conscious of ethics, demanding higher-quality ingredients and improved animal welfare standards. While these advancements align with our values, they do come at a higher cost.
So, there you have it! Although these reasons may not make it any easier to accept the increasing prices of our favourite fast-food treats, understanding the broader context can help us adapt and make well-informed decisions when it comes to spending our hard-earned money.
Daily Mail has reached out to McDonald's and Uber Eats for comment, but, unfortunately, no responses have been provided.
Here's a friendly reminder to keep a keen eye on your expenses during these challenging times. Have you noticed any other fast-food places and restaurants, aside from Macca's, that have experienced price increases over the years? We would love to hear about them in the comments section!
However, there's one unexpected increase in costs that has taken us by surprise – and it's happening at none other than the popular fast-food chain McDonald's.
Daily Mail recently conducted a shocking investigation comparing McDonald's prices in March 2019 with those of June 2023 when ordering via Uber Eats and the My Maccas app.
Some popular items like the Big Mac, cheeseburger, and McChicken have seen substantial price increases. The cheeseburger, for example, cost $3.15 in 2019—now it's a whopping $5, marking a 58% increase in price!
McDonald's raised its prices without informing their customers. Credit: Unsplash/Thabang.
The McChicken burger didn't fare much better, costing $5.50 in 2019 on Uber Eats and now setting customers back by $8.15, a 48% increase. When ordering through the MyMaccas app, the McChicken burger previously cost $9.60, but now it's reached a hefty $12.55, a 30% increase.
Even the simple, humble Fillet O' Fish has suffered an increase, from $5 to $7.10 on Uber Eats, a 42% increase in just under four years. Ordering the Fillet O' Fish through the My Maccas app brings the price up to $6.20, a 24% increase compared to 2019.
Trying to cool off with a soft-serve cone? In 2019, it was a mere 60 cents; now, it has shot up to $1, a staggering 66% increase. Meanwhile, McDonald's chicken nuggets have seen less of a 15% increase from $7.30 for six nuggets to $8.45.
Parents and grandparents will be disappointed to know that even Happy Meals cost more now. A cheeseburger Happy Meal on Uber Eats has gone from $5.30 in 2019 to a not-so-happy $7.55, a 42% increase. Ordering the same meal through the My Maccas app has only seen a 2% increase ($5.30 to $5.45), which may still pinch some wallets.
This price increase may vary across different stores as franchisees can adjust the prices, but it is still a surprise to many.
Reasons for price increases in the fast-food industry
We understand that it can be tempting to dismiss these financial shenanigans, but there are valid reasons behind the rising prices in the fast-food industry that we shouldn't ignore.
First and foremost, we can't overlook the global disruptions in the supply chain caused by recent events like the pandemic, labour shortages, and natural disasters. These factors have thrown many businesses into disarray as they struggle to source their ingredients from manufacturers and suppliers. With increased demand and a strained supply chain, prices are inevitably driven up.
Additionally, the cost of labour has been steadily rising in Australia over the years, with the minimum wage following an upward trajectory. Employers find themselves having to spend more and more to adequately compensate their staff, resulting in higher operational costs.
Lastly, we shouldn't disregard the improvements in food quality and the efforts to source more ethical and sustainable ingredients. There has been a surge in consumers who are conscious of ethics, demanding higher-quality ingredients and improved animal welfare standards. While these advancements align with our values, they do come at a higher cost.
So, there you have it! Although these reasons may not make it any easier to accept the increasing prices of our favourite fast-food treats, understanding the broader context can help us adapt and make well-informed decisions when it comes to spending our hard-earned money.
Due to escalating labour and material costs, businesses and restaurants found themselves compelled to raise their prices. Unsplash/shawnanggg.
Daily Mail has reached out to McDonald's and Uber Eats for comment, but, unfortunately, no responses have been provided.
Here's a friendly reminder to keep a keen eye on your expenses during these challenging times. Have you noticed any other fast-food places and restaurants, aside from Macca's, that have experienced price increases over the years? We would love to hear about them in the comments section!
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an't what you get the burgers 
are nowhere near the photo flat unappealing 
Hungry Jack's for a better value burger 
