“For a brand that proudly serves nearly 90% of the U.S. population every year, we feel a responsibility to make sure the real facts are available.”

McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger, responding to viral tweets and media reports that have, according to Erlinger, exaggerated the fast food chain’s price increases. Erlinger acknowledged that he and many franchises were frustrated by a post on X last summer about a Big Mac meal in Connecticut that cost $18. The average price for a Big Mac in the U.S. is $5.29, or $9.29 for the meal, a 20.5 percent increase compared to 2019. (Associated Press — May 29, 2024)