Posted on 05/01/2025 8:26:41 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
McDonald’s sales dropped in the beginning of the year, marking the second consecutive quarter of declines as customers pull back their spending amid economic uncertainty.
In the United States, its largest market, same-store sales dropped 3.6% — the chain’s worst drop since 2020 during the height of the Covid pandemic when people were told to stay home.
Net income for the first quarter was $1.87 billion, a decline from $1.93 billion compared to the same period a year ago. However, McDonald’s notes that since last year had a Leap Day, or an extra day to make money, that slightly hurt its sales in 2025.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a release that consumers are “grappling with uncertainty,” but that he remains optimistic in the company’s “ability to navigate even the toughest of market conditions and gain market share.”
On a call with analysts, Kempczinski said “geopolitical tensions added to the economic uncertainty and dampened consumer sentiment more than we expected.” Visits to restaurants in its largest markets, including the US, fell more than predicted.
Although he expects McDonald’s to “outperform” its competitors, the chain isn’t “immune to the volatility in the industry or the pressures that our consumers are facing.”
McDonald’s is also seeing worsening pullback in spending from low-income consumers, which is down nearly double digits versus a year ago. And, unlike a few months ago, spending from middle-income consumers also “fell nearly as much, a clear indication that the economic pressure on traffic has broadened.”
The chain’s blunt assessment of the economic environment mirrors that of other companies, with Chipotle, Yum! Brands, Domino’s Pizza and Starbucks all recently reporting meager earnings results as consumer sentiment sinks.
(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...
Everything is way too expensive there now. Food there has always been ok, but only if it’s relatively fast, hot and cheap.
Now money spent there can usually get you something better for the same money.
I have eaten one time at McDonalds since 1997. My band stopped at a Mickee Dee’s after a gig and I was starving, so I had a fish sandwich, sans bun.
Exactly.
Would also be interesting if MAHA were starting to break through.
I’m anything but nervous...McDonalds has always been a guilty pleasure for me but now, trying to lose weight and watch what I eat, I drive past my local MickeyD’s and go home for oatmeal and a banana - ONCE in a great while I splurge for an egg mcmuffin but the days of big macs and large fry are long gone.
$10 for beef tongue and hove slurry formed into a gelatinous “meat” patty? I don’t think so.
Ray Kroc is turning over in his grave.
McDonald’s french fries are now nearly inedible. They taste like cardboard straws. Horrible.
And yeah, about $13 bucks for a value meal? I don’t do fast food very often, but honestly, with the now terrible fries coupled with the high prices, I easily seek out alternatives.
A few Hardee’s have come back here in the east(Carl Jr clones). Great burgers although the drive thru service is the pits.
As a matter of coincidence I was in there…a week ago almost to the minute.
A fish sandwich is now almost 5 dollars by itself. Pretty sure you could get the entire meal that price pre-covid.
That has much to with the dip in sales, just does not make sense to go to “fine Scottish” cuisine McD and spend 12 dollars for a Big Mack meal when you can go to Chilis and get their 2 for 25 deal and get a burger, fries, drink and appetizer (or even other meal options).
Just getting too dam high.
Where I live, my favorite mexican restaurant offers the standard complimentary chips with salsa and their very filling enchilada lunch, with rice and beans is $5.99. The dinner version is $7.99. And it’s my favorite because of the quality of the food, not the price.
Beat that, McDonalds...
I can get an excellent sub from Publix for less than a quarter pounder with cheese and a drink. Publix subs are WAY better than a MacDonalds burger. The prices for a soft drink at fast food stores are insane. Bottled water is about a dime by the case so that’s all I drink now.
This thread is now in the running for being the most humorous for the day.
I think Wendy’s has the best coffee of any fast food chain. I wish they would sell it ground in stores like McDonald’s does their McCabe brand. It’s a little on the strong side. 💪
McWhopper joints have been WAY overpriced for years.
If you want to save even more, buy a home water filter and a stainless reusable bottle.
McRib used to be really good. The last two years when I’ve got one, it was different. The sauce wasn’t good anymore and it looked like was slapped together by some illegal alien who had no idea how it was supposed to be.
“Doesn’t matter, eventually all fast food will be large kiosks with no human workers.”
I don’t do Kiosks. So I won’t be buying. I’ll live without it. I didn’t eat out at all for two years during Covid, I went and bought packaged cold cuts, cheese, and crackers instead of fast food when on the road.
I avoid McDs. HATE using those stinking kiosks.
I haven’t had one of their toadburgers in decades...
A smaller branch of a well known restaurant where I live in a big city will sell a top-quality, huge burger and fries for like $16.
There a McD's around the corner that will sell me a crappy "Meal Deal" for $14.
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