WASHINGTON (TND) — With many Americans feeling the pinch of high prices, restaurants, and stores are focused on affordability to attract customers.

As the Daily Mail points out McDonald's prices have doubled in ten years.

In 2014, you could get a McDouble for just $1.19, and today you will pay $3.19. A 10-piece McNuggets meal was just $5.99, and today you'll have to pay $10.99.

If the shake machine works, you will pay $4.49 for an Oreo McFlurry; a decade ago, it was just $2.39.

I would like for them to put some good stuff on sale," explained Donna Leonard of Virginia. "Maybe a sandwich, fries, and a drink. For me, it probably costs like $14, $15."

McDonald's has seen less revenue from lower-income customers and reduced foot traffic. The fast food giant is reportedly looking to roll out $5 meal deals.

"We've lived through a period of incredibly high inflation," explained Ryan Bourne, an economist with CATO Institute. "When prices go up, particularly for food, it's low-income customers that are often the most sensitive to those price changes."

Wendy's is offering Jr. cheeseburgers for one penny until June 2.

Walmart, Target, and Aldi are discounting thousands of items.

As a result of families spending more on food, they're a lot more attuned to how much they're spending, especially when they get to treat themselves to a meal out. So it's not surprising to me that supermarkets and fast food chains are really trying to appeal to consumers on price," Bourne added.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices are 26.95% higher in 2024 than in 2019.

"We will continue to talk about food prices because even though inflation is coming down, that really just means the rate at which prices are going up has slowed," Bourne noted. "I think that's going to be a big factor going into the election."

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