McDonald's customers mind-blown after seeing prices on 2009 menu
A blast-from-the-past McDonald’s menu is reminding customers just how cheap fast food used to be. The resurfaced menu from 2009 has gone viral because the prices are so starkly different to what Americans pay today. Take a kids meal, for example. Back in 2009, a standard six-piece chicken nugget Happy Meal was just $4.39 - and that included a drink, a side, and most importantly a toy. Today, that same meal rings up at about $7.19. That means the price of a Happy Meal has jumped 48 percent in 17 years.Happy Meal Costs Outpace What Inflation Would Dictate If McDonald’s had raised prices strictly in line with inflation, that meal would cost closer to $6.63 today, according to the CPI inflation calculator. Happy Meals aren't the only victim of the fast food chain's wild price hikes. The humble small fry has seen one of the biggest leaps - rising 149 per cent from $1 to $2.49. If it had risen by the rate of inflation it would have gone to just $1.51. Meanwhile, a Big Mac that cost $3.89 in 2009 now sells for around $5.79. McFlurries have nearly doubled, climbing from $2.39 to about $4.39.McValue Menu Fails to Match Nostalgic Appeal Fans also pointed out what is missing. The once-iconic Dollar Menu no longer exists, and has instead been replaced by the McValue Menu - which offers deals such as $5 combos and 'Buy One, Add One for $1'. McDonald's fans looked back at the retro menu from 2009 with fond memories. 'When life was worth living,' one person reacted on Reddit. Another wrote: 'I miss this so much.' Prices weren't the only things causing upset, customers also noted how value has slipped over the years. 'Look at the variety from 2009. The quality and quantity of food was better back then,' someone said. 'Prices are double today and items are smaller,' a user agreed. 'My god they're ripping us off,' another added. McDonald's certainly doesn't have the same grasp over Americans that it once did. The iconic fast food chain was one of the first of its kind on the scene, debuting in 1940 as a hamburger stand in San Bernadino, California. McDonald's became the biggest fast food chain in the world, and held that title until 2024, when Chinese company Mixue swooped in and stole the crown. Recent data revealed the fast-food restaurants that dominate each individual state - and the results are mixed. Interestingly, McDonald’s - despite being the largest fast food chain in America by sales - was largely absent from the top spots. While it didn’t claim the No 1 position in any state, the Golden Arches consistently ranked within the top five to ten by both search popularity and locations per capita. Yet, it rarely reached the very top.
