A depressing number of Americans now view fast food as a luxury

Once considered a staple in the United States, fast food items have now become a luxury, with the majority of people reporting they can no longer afford fast meals.

A new survey from LendingTree shows that due to soaring inflation, 62% of respondents say they barely eat at fast food chains.

Notably, about 78 percent of consumers now view fast food as a luxury – particularly those earning less than $30,000 a year, parents of young children, Generation Z and women.

Official figures show that annual inflation in the fast food sector stands at 4.8 percent.

Prices for a typical combo meal at the five biggest burger chains – McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Carls Jr and Five Guys – have increased 120% in a decade.

That’s more than three times the official inflation rate: The cost of goods has only increased 31% since 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More than half of those surveyed agreed that fast food should be cheaper than eating at home, while 46% say fast food restaurants cost the same as their local restaurant.

At Carl’s Jr, a Famous Star combo went from $5.29 to $11.68, more than double since 2014.

In terms of amount, Five Guys – the most expensive overall – went from $7 to $20.32.

But customers were even more shocked when they realized a meal cost more than $10 in some parts of the country — a complaint that was voiced by many people online.

A TikToker named Natalie Hyde revealed in March that she was asked to pay $17 at a McDonald’s drive-thru for three simple Filet-O-Fish sandwiches for her and her husband.

A viewer who saw Hyde’s video also commented: “Medium fries are $4.28!!! With taxes!!’ while another revealed: “I once ordered three McDoubles and a basket of fries, it was like $20, I was what.” Even four Sundays of hot fudge was $16.

TikTok influencer Bella Rose also posted a video about the price increase and told her viewers that a $5 long (12-inch) Subway sandwich now costs $5.69 for six-inch and 8.69 $ for a whole foot.

She said the only reason for the rise was due to uncontrolled inflation over the past decade.

Another study showed how much prices have increased in ten years and how they vary across the country.

At McDonald’s, Houston, Texas was the cheapest for a Big Mac combo at $7.89. In Seattle it was almost $15.

Five Guys was also expensive in Seattle but most expensive in Chicago, Illinois. There, a cheeseburger, fries and a drink cost $23.65. It was the cheapest in nearby Indianapolis, Indiana. In fact, overall, Five Guys was the most expensive.

We hope that the price rise is now over.

McDonald’s reported lower-than-expected sales in the first three months of the year, which it acknowledged was because low-income Americans were discouraged by rising prices.

CEO Chris Kempczinski has promised better value for money for the rest of the year, saying the chain needs to be “focused on affordability.”