Kevin Roberts remembers when he could get a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a drink from Five Guys for $10. But that was years ago. When the Virginia high school teacher recently visited the fast-food chain, the food alone without a beverage cost double that amount.
Roberts, 38, now only gets fast food “as a rare treat,” he told CBS MoneyWatch. “Nothing has made me cook at home more than fast-food prices.”
Roberts is hardly alone. Many consumers are expressing frustration at the surge in fast-food prices, which are starting to scare off budget-conscious customers.
A January poll by consulting firm Revenue Management Solutions found that about 25% of people who make under $50,000 were cutting back on fast food, pointing to cost as a concern.
Yeah, I love my local pizza place and I’m on good terms with the owner, but the prices have gone up enough that I’ve set a hard limit of only going there once a month, and there are some menu items that I explicitly just will not buy because they’re so overpriced.
Cost frankly does define my dietary habits. The number one reason that I don’t decide to grab the odd piece of vegan chicken to put in a bagel is because it costs 50% more than regular chicken.
Local breakfast spot… Used to be $8 for “two eggs any style” with meat and home fries and stuff. Used to be $13.50 for eggs Benedict.
It is now $14 for 2 eggs any style (get fucked), and… $16 for eggs Benedict.
Like ok, I’ll do the eggs Benedict at that robbery rate Jesus.