Recession fears spark largest drop in McDonald's sales since the peak of Covid

[senseandsensibility]

This according to CNN and the BBC. I don't know about you, but I trust signs like this, which show what the average person is feeling and how they are reacting. Budgets are tighter, and recession fears are real.

[nitpicked]

1. McDonald's reports largest U.S. same-store sales decline since 2020

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/01/mcdonalds-mcd-q1-2025-earnings.html

McDonald’s on Thursday reported mixed quarterly results as its U.S. same-store sales fell for the second straight quarter, posting their largest domestic decline since the onset of the Covid pandemic.

McDonald’s U.S. same-store sales shrank 3.6% as the chain faced bad weather and a more cautious consumer. That drop is the worst in McDonald’s home market since the 8.7% plunge during the second quarter of 2020, when states imposed lockdowns to slow the spread of Covid.

Analysts surveyed by StreetAccount were expecting the company to report domestic same-store sales declines of 1.7% for the first quarter.
(snip)

Compared with its industry peers, McDonald’s has more low- and middle-income diners, executives said. And even though high-income consumers are still dining out, their spending is not enough to offset the shrinking traffic from other income cohorts.
(snip)

[wishstar]

3. 2 Fish Filets and 2 Medium Fries cost over $17 last time I was there

When I can buy a whole package of multiple good fish filets and a whole pack of buns and frozen fries at Aldi for about $10.00 and end up with many more easy to fix meals at home.

Only went to McD's because we were given a $15 gift card. but that wasn't enough for our 2 meals.

[senseandsensibility]

6. The hubby is a fastfood fan (I'm not)

but he decided to kick the habit when they price gouged during the recovery from Covid. He now goes to a local Chinese takeout restaurant and gets a huge amount of food for fifteen bucks. He divides it into five portions to eat with rice at home, so it works out to about three bucks per serving.

[Basso8vb]

2. I can buy 3 pounds of ground beef for about the same price as a Big Mac meal.

Not a shocker.

[dalton99a]

5. +1

[Maninacan]

4. MC Ds only when travelling

I only do MCDs when on the road . I am priced out of the breakfast sandwich. Senior coffee a place to sit and use WIFI. Sometimes a Medium coffee. A meal everyday would add up quickly. I save that money for a nice restaurant meal every couple of days.