McDonald's $18 Big Mac Meal Goes Viral Again As Fast Food Minimum Wage Hike To $20 Triggers Fears Of Skyrocketing Prices And Layoffs, Leaving People Questioning: 'Maybe This Went Up Way Too Fast'
The recent uproar over a McDonald’s location in Darien, Connecticut, charging $18 for a Big Mac combo meal has sparked a nationwide debate on the escalating prices in the fast-food industry. Sam Learner’s viral post on X showcasing the exorbitant prices, including $19 for a Quarter Pounder meal and $17 for two cheeseburgers, has raised questions about the sustainability of such pricing in the industry.
This incident at a Connecticut rest stop is not isolated. Across the country, fast-food prices have been climbing, a trend partly attributed to rising operational costs, including labor. The situation is particularly noteworthy in California, where a new $20 minimum wage for fast-food employees, effective April 1, 2024, has been established. The substantial increase from the previous $16 minimum wage has led to a ripple effect across the industry.