Posted on 05/21/2024 12:44:39 PM PDT by Red Badger
It's crazy to think how much better we had it just five short years ago. You could get a $1.29 McChicken, a $1.69 5-layer burrito from Taco Bell, 8 nuggets at Chick-fil-A for $3.05. We had it made!
Since 2019, however, those prices have essentially doubled, and that's not only outrageous, it's depressing.
Let's check on the numbers, shall we?
So here's what inflation looked like overall during that period:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, prices in general went up by around 21.5% between December 2019 (prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic issues that followed) and March 2024 (the latest month for which CPI data was available as of this article's last update).
21.5% inflation over five years!!! Outrageous, though we did spend a whole heck of a lot of money during that whole pandemic thing.
What's more outrageous, however, is the way fast-food prices have risen during that same period — significantly more than that 21.5% number, I'll tell you that much.
Check out these numbers:
McDonald's:
Taco Bell:
Chick-Fil-A:
Burger King:
In-N-Out:
Jack in the Box:
It seriously hurts my brain to see these numbers!
I am amazed, however, that through all of this inflation Jack in the Box has stood strong on that "two tacos for 99¢" deal.
$5 never tasted so good! A few takeaways from the data up there:
How much have fast-food prices gone up since 2020?
Prices of the items we looked at at the six restaurants listed above went up an average of 77.4% between late December 2019 and mid 2024.
Which fast-food chain raised prices the most?
Across all of the menu items listed for each of the six restaurants checked, McDonald's raised prices more on average (141.4%) than any of the other five restaurants included in this list.
Those aren't official numbers, by the way. They only include those six fast-food joints and the items listed above. But still, this is worrisome.
So as if overall inflation hadn't hit us hard enough, we in the lower tax brackets — the folks who eat fast-food — got hit with a ~77.4% increase in fast-food prices.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what life is like in Joe Biden's America.
Mostly salaries. The guy who worked for $12 an hour is now making $20.
So when Biden talks about corporate greed, he’s really referring to McDonald’s and Burger King, huh?
$7.49 for a Big Mac or Whopper? Are you insane?
Let me guess. Fast food isn’t in the ‘basket of goods’ used to measure inflation.
Most get the meal for 5 bucks.
Mark
and no drinks...
you can go sit down and have a decent meal for a little more than these prices...
My wife and I usually eat out on weekends because we are out and about.
This weekend we ate at:
Popeyes Fried Chicken $25 for two 2-piece combo meals.
KFC $20 for same.
Krystal $20 for two 4 burger combos fries and small drink.
The prices are DOUBLE what we used to pay...................
A few weeks ago I noticed that regular-sized candy bars (not “jumbo” or “king sized”) like Snickers were selling for between $1.60 and $1.75 at local stores. Just a few years ago I think they were selling for about 89 cents.
Joe Biden did that!!!
I’m curious where you can still get two Jack tacos for 99 cents. They went up here at least a year ago, I think they’re something like $1.49 now.
And neither is auto insurance!
There is a big chocolate shortage right now. The harvest in Africa was well below average.
Inflation, too many dollars chasing too few goods.
Deflation, not enough dollars chasing too many goods.
It is elementary Watson.
Part of the reason for soaring prices is the cost of labor but it is not the only cost. Mostly it is the justification for price increases. The soaring prices are also from greed and stupidity and taking advantage of a situation and hiding behind it. If the cost of labor doubles, even though it is only a fraction of costs, they double prices across the board. That is greed and stupidity and I have seen it many times before.
Don't like the beast? Starve him. Pack a sack lunch, take a picnic, eat at home, stay at home. If everyone did this in 6 months prices would come down. But, people will not do this until they have no other choice.
| Item | Start 1/1/20 | End 4/30/24 | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds Medium Fry | 1.79 | 4.19 | 22% |
| McDonalds McChicken | 1.29 | 3.89 | 29% |
| McDonalds Big Mac | 3.99 | 7.49 | 16% |
| McDonalds 10 McNugget | 4.49 | 7.58 | 13% |
| McDonalds Cheeseburger | 1.00 | 3.15 | 30% |
| Chick-fil-A Deluxe Chicken Sandwich | 3.65 | 6.55 | 14% |
| Chick-fil-A 8 Nuggets | 3.05 | 5.99 | 17% |
| Chick-fil-A 4 Chick-n-Strips | 4.39 | 7.85 | 14% |
| Chick-fil-A Medium waffle fry | 1.65 | 2.99 | 15% |
| Chick-fil-A Large milkshake | 3.15 | 5.19 | 12% |
Glad I have not eaten that stuff for many decades.
I do admit grabbing a McD coffee at 0-dark thirty driving out to Ft Irwin. That was for survival.
I took one of those ‘surveys’ for Popeyes, listed on the back of the receipt, online.
I basically told them their prices were way too high and we will not be eating there in the future................
Heck. Sit down restaurants are double now. Even the Mexican food truck can’t sell a burrito for under $20. How long until Biden outlaws gardening supplies and seeds?
See how flat the red trend is during President Trump's term, and how steep it gets during Biden's term (green)?
Biden's rate of change may be slowing down, but overall prices are way up since he took office.
Here is the chart for overall inflation. It's clear in this chart that even housing, oil, and gasoline inflation were normal during the Trump administration, but these economic sectors were even harder hit by Biden's inflation.
Red line: Inflation trend during Trump presidency.
Green line: Inflation trend during Biden presidency.
This is the chart for "core inflation" that excludes food and energy.
Red line: Inflation trend during Trump presidency.
Green line: Inflation trend during Biden presidency.
-PJ
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