Fast Food Prices EXPLODE: Are You Getting RIPPED OFF?
We’ve got some shocking news for you about the state of fast food in America. It feels like every time you hit the drive-thru or open a delivery app, the total just keeps climbing. Well, you’re not imagining things. We’ve been digging into the data, and what we’ve found is frankly outrageous.
Let’s start with something that’s got social media buzzing: the price of a single chicken drumstick at Kentucky Fried Chicken is nearing $5! Yes, you read that right. A single piece of chicken. Customers are understandably stunned, with many pointing to inflation and corporate greed as the culprits. It’s likely a combination of both.
We’ve looked at the numbers, and since January 2020, the average price of a fast food meal has shot up by a staggering 30%. To put that in perspective, we also found that between President Trump’s inauguration and January 2020, fast food prices actually decreased by 6%. While that decrease wasn’t huge, the current surge is undeniable and hits American wallets hard. Are your wages keeping pace with this 30% increase? We doubt it.
But the sticker shock at the counter isn’t the only way you might be overpaying. Have you noticed your delivery app bills creeping higher? It turns out there’s a reason for that. We uncovered that third-party delivery apps like Uber and DoorDash have been steadily increasing their fees. And it’s not just the delivery and service fees; it appears many restaurants are actually charging more per item on these apps.
Consider this: a Reddit user in NYC found a single KFC drumstick for $4.19 on GrubHub but only $3.49 for pickup and a shocking $2.69 at their mom’s address! Why the crazy markup for delivery? As one commenter pointed out, you’re already paying for delivery and tipping the driver, so the added restaurant markup feels like a blatant ripoff. We agree! We even saw data showing markups as high as 100% on Postmates, 70% on Uber Eats, 80% on GrubHub, and 83% on DoorDash when factoring in the lowest possible tip.
It’s not just KFC. Furious Burger King customers have also demanded answers after a viral video highlighted how they’re being charged more per item when ordering through DoorDash, on top of delivery and service fees. One person shared their experience of a Chick-fil-A sandwich costing $9.55 for delivery versus $1.39 in-store! It seems like these apps, initially a convenient luxury, might have become a secret way to inflate your bill.
Looking at the components of your fast food favorites, the price hikes are widespread. Since January 2020:
- Mayonnaise is up 50%
- Bacon is up 24%
- Bread is up 35%
- Lettuce is up 31%
- Fountain drinks are up 40%
- Side dishes are up 60%
- Entrees are up 50%
- Breakfast (driven largely by egg prices) is up 56%, with eggs themselves up a staggering 149%!
It’s no wonder that a recent survey found that 78% of people now see fast food as a luxury, not the affordable quick meal it used to be. This is a massive shift and a real problem for the fast food industry, especially when the quality of the food often doesn’t justify these soaring prices.
Even classic value meals are feeling the pinch. The Big Mac, for example, went from $3.99 to $5.99 in the last decade. And a four-piece chicken dinner at Popeyes saw a nearly 100% increase, jumping from $7 to $13.79 (we believe this comparison was likely over a 10-year period).
While menu prices vary across the country, it seems like Taco Bell might still be leading the pack in terms of cheap eats, often offering better value than burger-based options. But the overall trend is clear: fast food is getting expensive.
So, what are you seeing locally? Are you experiencing these insane price hikes? Let us know in the comment section below. We’re curious to hear your experiences as we navigate this increasingly costly fast food landscape. We hope we get some relief soon, because these prices are becoming unsustainable for many.
