{"id":2476913,"date":"2025-08-20T18:27:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T22:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcdonalds-set-to-slash-combo-meal-prices-amid-customer-backlash\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T18:30:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T22:30:19","slug":"mcdonalds-set-to-slash-combo-meal-prices-amid-customer-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcdonalds-set-to-slash-combo-meal-prices-amid-customer-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"McDonald&#8217;s Set to Slash Combo Meal Prices Amid Customer Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmcdonalds-set-to-slash-combo-meal-prices-amid-customer-backlash%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2476913&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>McDonald&#8217;s is reducing the prices of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/potato-shortage-leads-to-global-shortage-of-french-fries-potato-chips\/\" title=\"Potato Shortage Leads To Global Shortage Of French Fries, Potato Chips\">combo meals<\/a> following growing criticism that its food has become too expensive. Starting next month, eight popular combo meals will be priced at 15% less than buying the items separately. The company and its U.S. franchisees have agreed on this discount, with mcdonald&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >corporate covering losses incurred<\/a> by franchisees. This initiative aims to improve customer perception of value,especially since combo meals often cost over $10,which has hurt the brand&#8217;s image.<\/p>\n<p>The effort includes expanding deals like a $5 breakfast special and an $8 Big Mac and McNugget combo, bringing back the &#8220;Extra Value Meals&#8221; branding. CEO Chris Kempczinski emphasized the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chipotle-says-menu-prices-could-increase-if-minimum-wage-hike-imposed\/\" title=\"Chipotle Says Menu ... Could Increase If Minimum Wage Hike Imposed\">menu pricing<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/boil-water-notice-goes-out-in-texas-capital-amidst-severe-winter-weather\/\" title=\"Boil Water Notice Goes Out In Texas Capital Amidst Severe Winter Weather\">affecting customer<\/a> value perception and acknowledged the need to fix current pricing issues.<\/p>\n<p>This move follows viral social media outrage over expensive Big Mac meals, with McDonald&#8217;s USA President Joe Erlinger clarifying that high prices at some locations are exceptions and that most franchisees offer affordable meal bundles. However, some franchisees may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congressional-budget-office-minimum-wage-hike-would-cost-1-4-million-jobs\/\" title=\"Congressional Budget Office: Minimum Wage Hike Would Cost 1.4 Million Jobs\">raise prices<\/a> on individual items to offset combo discounts. Customers can expect more consistency in meal deal pricing nationwide.  <\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>McDonald&rsquo;s is cutting prices on its combo meals after growing criticism that its food has become too expensive.<\/p>\n<p>The move comes just weeks after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/krispy-kreme-delivers-bad-news-mcdonalds-unsustainable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the company&rsquo;s<\/a> CEO admitted the chain needed to make a change when it comes to customer perception of value, CNN <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/08\/20\/food\/mcdonalds-combo-lower-prices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The chain and its U.S. franchisees agreed to price eight popular combo meals at 15 percent less than the total cost of buying the items separately.<\/p>\n<p>The discounts will take effect next month, and the corporation will subsidize franchisees who sell items at a loss.<\/p>\n<p>McDonald&rsquo;s declined to comment, according to CNN.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The Wall Street Journal first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/business\/hospitality\/mcdonalds-combo-meal-prices-929b4891?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAhvVJnRShS_KDdtIUiM9sLPmyFKyHEQtKmpqBV9wcdS5RjLhXCxA7-ju3pC4c8%3D&amp;gaa_ts=68a61a92&amp;gaa_sig=Qoq1vcMYp3zsN5XK5QAjXBRAWQBTAbIX5_kkaK4_0a3uhyXrw1SIQTha52SqLPyLzWkDaM1IGUPhUqk-UbRmYw%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> the news.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Customers are telling us they need more of the everyday value and affordability that defines the McDonald&rsquo;s brand,&rdquo; a company executive said.<\/p>\n<p>The company will also expand its deals with a $5 breakfast special and an $8 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mcdonalds-loses-big-mac-name-rights-chicken-sandwich-shocking-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Big Mac<\/a> and McNugget combo.<\/p>\n<p>The &ldquo;Extra Value Meals&rdquo; branding will return as part of the push.<\/p>\n<p>CEO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/democratic-senators-take-action-mcdonalds-just-day-trumps-visit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chris Kempczinski<\/a> told investors this month that &ldquo;consumers&rsquo; value perceptions are most influenced by our core menu pricing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He admitted that combo meals &ldquo;too often&rdquo; cost more than $10, which hurts customer opinion of the brand.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The single biggest driver of what shapes a consumer&rsquo;s overall perception of McDonald&rsquo;s value is the menu board,&rdquo; Kempczinski said on the Aug. 6 earnings call, according to CNN.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to get that fixed,&rdquo; he added, CNN reported.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, a social media post showing an $18 Big Mac meal went viral online, drawing outraged comments and claims that the chain had abandoned its affordability roots.<\/p>\n<p>McDonald&rsquo;s USA President Joe Erlinger responded to the uproar with an open letter in May 2024.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It frustrates and worries me, and many of our franchisees, when I hear about an $18 Big Mac meal being sold &mdash; even if it was at one location,&rdquo; Erlinger <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.mcdonalds.com\/corpmcd\/our-stories\/article\/providing-meaningful-value-to-our-fans-with-a-side-of-facts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He insisted the viral example was the exception and not the rule for his company&rsquo;s prices.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The average price of a Big Mac in the U.S. was $4.39 in 2019,&rdquo; Erlinger said. &ldquo;The average cost is now $5.29. That&rsquo;s an increase of 21%.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Erlinger also said more than 90 percent of U.S. franchisees currently offer meal bundles for $4 or less.<\/p>\n<p>Cheapism <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aol.com\/mcdonald-cutting-prices-win-customers-182000962.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABvTIe-ImR2l5ZAlsms-CpnbQJkgGwXh8GumuD5D9O_M7RZWWvdsUU_V8TRoLollCuJv0U1xbHhi8rf-1gwg-k4N5OyGGs79HEfwcUdRnN_-Fqlva7IgfsfY4S_NunDNPPToJrlR9jnxAi-WmldGqY8G_vZGvs66Npf682m7FERi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noted<\/a> that while McDonald&rsquo;s appears to have secured franchisee buy-in, some owners could raise individual item prices to offset the new combo discounts.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Cheapism reported, customers should expect at least some nationwide consistency on the $5 and $8 meal deals.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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This decision comes shortly after the company&#8217;s CEO acknowledged the need to improve how customers perceive value, according to CNN. The company and its U.S. franchisees have agreed to offer eight popular combo meals at a 15% discount compared to buying each item separately<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2476914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/McDs-Combo-meal-price-reduction.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[61646,51935,13133,11237,61647],"class_list":["post-2476913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-combo-meal-prices","tag-customer-backlash","tag-fast-food","tag-mcdonalds","tag-price-cut"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/McDs-Combo-meal-price-reduction.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2476913"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2476917,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476913\/revisions\/2476917"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2476914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2476913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2476913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2476913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}