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 ...
The last time we ordered fries at a McD drive-thru, we took a bite and immediately circled back through the line for a refund. They tasted like Chinese recycled cardboard might taste.
Yeah, not good. Like the fish sandwich but not at that price.
Just stop for iced coffee now.
Available all day, every day and it tastes much better. Imo.
How to eat a McRib
Start with a soft fresh roll, add in crispy pickles and onions, add in tangy barbecue sauce, and add in the mystery meat that is God knows what.
Next take out the mystery meat and throw it away and eat everything else.
Maybe if they started by getting rid of 1/3 of their menu, at least and serving edible food in a reasonable time...things would change...
LOL love that bit!
This is a major issue also. When you can eat BETTER at a regular restaurant for almost the same price, you got a problem...
I just picked up some whole wheat bread and Kraft singles. Going to be grilled cheese sandwiches this week. About a dollar a sandwich.
Agree. $10 is a big price point to go over for fast food. The problem these fast food joints is they now want to charge $12-$15 for junk food combo meal but the value is just not there. That may fly in NYC but flyover country isn’t going to bite.
Their “food” is really unhealthy.
The price for their meals is nearly Chipotle ridiculous
I refuse to use Apps as well—same reasoning as you.
In the old days McDonalds was cheap and did not demand to snoop into my life to offer deals.
They obviously do not want me as a customer—fine with me.
Good for you. Except for very minimal internet communications and phone calls I am done using tech. I refuse to feed the beast that is hellbent on enslaving us with technology. No Credit/Bank Cards, no store rewards cards, no apps, no Kiosks, no automated payments, Etc.
I’m not lazy and do not mind the extra time and effort to abstain from facilitating my own enslavement. They are enslaving us with our own laziness and spoiled want for “convenience”.
“If you want to save even more, buy a home water filter and a stainless reusable bottle.”
You have to live in SW Florida in the spring to understand why that’s not a good idea. Once the rainy season starts and the Peace River rises a good deal, we will use the filter pitcher.
That is how you destroy your competition. Offer a good product at a reasonable price.
McDonalds has gone to hell.
Ya, thats management. They are not watching.
This had nothing to do with the foods served at fast food places. It's about developing better habits, choices, planning, and interests.
Make your own breads. Ferment your own Kimchi, and pickled veggies. Make your coffee at home. Learn to not make dietary choices on impulse. Learn the history of foods in every time period and culture. Learn how and why diets throughout history impacted common societies.
Make it your business what you eat and when, not some corporation's business. Break the psychology that those corporations carefully constructed over the past 75 years.
They have oat meal that ain’t half bad
Stopped at the new place by the hospital a while ago. Cant think of the name now.
You can watch them run the potatoes through to make fries.
Didnt think much o the burgers though.
What a place to put a burger joint hey? Right next to all that traffic from the hospital and medical center.
No wonder my cardiologist said to stay away from them places yesterday.
I go to McDonalds about once a week. My wife and I get the Sausage Egg McMuffin - 2 for $5. Skip the drinks.
It has been a couple of years since I bought a McDonald’s burger. On the road and needed something quick. $8 and it was garbage!
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