Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, addressed recent claims concerning increased menu prices through an open letter on Wednesday. The fast food executive acknowledged that McDonald’s menu items have seen an average price rise of about 40 percent since 2019. While Erlinger sought to refute claims by House Republicans — among others — that menu price hikes exceeded 100 percent, he did confirm that inflation has forced a drastic rise in food costs.
“Americans across the country are making tough calls about where to spend their hard-earned money,” Erlinger said. “And while we’ve been working hard to make sure our fans have great reasons to visit us, it’s clear that we — together with our franchisees — must remain laser-focused on value and affordability.”
