91³ÉÈË

McDonald's' Response to Inflation? A $5 Meal Deal — Here's Everything to Know About It. The announcement of the $5 deal comes as stubborn inflation squeezes consumers, who have demanded the fast food giant offer more value.

By Carl Stoffers Edited by Brittany Robins

Key Takeaways

  • McDonald's has launched its $5 Meal Deal aiming to provide more value to customers during a time of economic pressure.
  • Customers can enjoy free medium fries with any $1 purchase through the McDonald's mobile app every Friday until the end of 2024.
  • The launch comes in response to inflation and flat to declining Q1 industry traffic in the U.S., with McDonald's reinforcing its commitment to affordability and value.

McDonald's announced the launch of its starting this week, which includes a McDouble or McChicken, small fries, four-piece Chicken McNuggets and a small drink. McDonald's is also offering a free medium french fries with any $1 purchase via the mobile app every Friday through 2024. And on July 12 — National French Fry Day — customers can get of any size.

"We heard our fans loud and clear — they're looking for even more great value from us, and this summer that's exactly what they'll get," Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald's USA, said in a . "Value has always been part of our DNA."

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The announcement comes as stubborn inflation squeezes lower-income consumers, who have demanded the fast food giant offer more value. McDonald's saw flat to industry traffic in the U.S., CEO Chris Kempczinski hinted at a national value platform during the , emphasizing the need for a centralized, national offer instead of localized deals.

"McDonald's has a long history of being the go-to destination for value and it's imperative that we continue to keep affordability at the forefront for our customers," during the call. "We literally wrote the playbook on value, and we are committed to upholding our leadership within the industry."

The $5 Meal Deal follows a May 29 from Erlinger addressing rumors and misconceptions about McDonald's menu price increases. Meanwhile, competitors like Burger King and Wendy's are also to attract budget-conscious consumers.

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Carl Stoffers

91³ÉÈË Staff

Senior Business Editor

Carl Stoffers is the Senior Business Editor at 91³ÉÈË, where he covers the franchise industry. Before joining 91³ÉÈË, he was Managing Editor at IPVM and held editorial roles at The New York Times Upfront, The Marshall Project, and the New York Daily News. He holds a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University.

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