McDonald’s is starting to feel the pressure as more low-income customers cut back on spending. According to CEO Christopher Kempczinski, the company saw a significant drop in visits from this demographic during the third quarter, echoing a broader slowdown across the fast-food industry. With inflation pushing up the cost of rent, groceries, and child care, many families are deciding that eating out just isn’t worth it anymore.
But let’s be real it might not just be the economy. More people are waking up and questioning what’s really in this food. McDonald’s has long been criticized for selling one of the most processed, preservative-packed menus in America. From burgers that don’t mold to fries that stay intact for weeks, people are asking if the food doesn’t decompose, what is it really doing inside your body?
Meanwhile, wealthier consumers are still showing up, with traffic from high-income customers climbing nearly double digits. McDonald’s same-store U.S. sales rose 2.4 percent, and global revenue hit $36 billion. But even with those numbers, the growth is slowing.
The company admits it’s losing ground with its value-focused base. Since 2019, prices have gone up nearly 40 percent across the menu. In response, McDonald’s is testing $5 and $8 meal bundles, bringing back the Monopoly promotion, and even reintroducing snack wraps to lure people back in.
