(NEXSTAR) – Inflation is inflicting costs to rise on nearly every thing within the U.S. proper now. Properties, vehicles, fuel – it’s all turning into dearer. However what in regards to the quickest, best meal to seize in America: a burger, fries, and a soda?
Sadly for the informal quick meals fan, costs have risen by an incredible quantity during the last two years.
MoneyGeek, a private finance web site, took a deep dive into rising meal costs of their newest report. They checked out how a lot costs modified between 2022 and 2024 for a meal containing a burger, fries and soda, utilizing costs from Allmenus and Grubhub for the best income quick meals burger eating places.
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Of the burger chains MoneyGeek reported on, 5 Guys was ranked as the costliest meal of all of the excessive income burger chains. The common value of a 5 Guys meal value $20.84 in 2024, a 14% improve from 2022 when the identical meal went for $18.33. The restaurant chain went viral this 12 months after a receipt displaying a $24 invoice for a cheeseburger, fries and soda was posted to X.
Whereas the priciest of these included within the report, 5 Guys wasn’t the corporate with the most important menu value hikes. The chain with the most important proportion improve since 2022 was really Wendy’s, which noticed a rise of 32% within the common value of a meal from $9.41 to $12.41 over two years.
A Wendy’s spokesperson responded to the research by saying it affords low-price choices for cost-conscious prospects. “Whereas we weren’t contacted about this research and haven’t dug into the factors, Wendy’s has all the time been about offering prime quality meals at a terrific worth to our prospects, that’s why we launched the $5 Biggie Bag in 2019 and proceed to supply offers throughout our menu,” the spokesperson advised Nexstar.
Right here’s how the opposite chains ranked in line with MoneyGeek.
Chain NameAverage Value of a Meal in 2024Average Value of a Meal in 2022Percentage Increase1. 5 Guys$20.84$18.3313.7percent2. Jack within the Field$13.75$10.9325.8percent3. Wendy’s$12.41$9.4131.8percent4. Burger King$10.61$9.4412.3percent5. McDonald’s$7.57$6.2122.0%(Credit score: MoneyGeek)
5 Guys, Jack within the Field, Burger King, and McDonald’s didn’t reply to Nexstar’s request for remark by publication time.
Why is Quick Meals dearer?
Not simply burgers, however quick meals generally continues to turn out to be increasingly costly by the 12 months.
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A research by FinanceBuzz discovered that from 2014 to 2024, common menu costs have risen between 39% and 100%. That’s greater than the 31% general inflation charge throughout that very same time interval, in line with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The growing value of labor and the rising reputation of supply apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, which cost quick meals chains charges that straight influence your invoice, are two main contributors to rising costs, Greenlight experiences.