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McDonalds Sales Plunge In Worst Month Since 2003 Following Dollar Meal "Sticker Shock"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Moments ago, McDonalds not only released earnings and revenues, both of which missed - something which was largely expected since the backward looking data had been telegraphed by MCD's recent global selling collapse - blanketed by atrocious commentary, but it disclosed its September global retail sales which were for lack of a better word, a disaster, after reporting global sales which dropped 3.8%, below the 3.2% expected, and the worst global month since at least 2003. The pain was everywhere, with Europe plunging 4.2% (est -0.9%), Asia down 7.5%, and the US down a whopping 4.1%, far below the 2.8% expected, and also the worst month in over a decade.

 

In fact, McDonalds sales in the US have have now gone a whopping 11 months without posting a positive sales month, the longest stretch on record!

 

But while collapsing MCD sales are a combination of both the insolvent US consumer, who can no longer afford to buy either MCD or Coke (as we commented earlier) especially after purchasing the latest and greatest iThing on credit, as well as shifting tastes and eating the "cool food du jour", things are only going to get worse from here.

Because in a world that is allegedly flooded with deflation, the one place where everyone considered safe for "dollar meals", just got more expensive. Bloomberg reports:

Mike Hiner used to take his grandsons to McDonald’s (MCD) when they wanted a treat. With higher wage and food costs pushing up prices at the Golden Arches, he’s increasingly taking them to IHOP, Denny’s and Chili’s instead.

 

The loss of bargain-seeking customers like Hiner underscores a growing challenge for McDonald’s Corp.: While the company still offers several items for $1, its menu is quietly getting more expensive. McDonald’s said its prices were up about 3 percent through the end of June compared with 12 months earlier. That’s more than the 2.5 percent gain in prices for food Americans purchased away from their homes in the year through August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

The chain’s diminishing appeal among budget diners -- coupled with rising meat costs -- are projected to take a bite out of third-quarter earnings due to be reported tomorrow. Analysts estimate that McDonald’s revenue fell 1.8 percent to $7.2 billion in the period. Net income, which also were hurt by a food-safety scare in China, slid 11 percent to $1.36 billion, according to the projections.

And sure enough, see the charts above. But that is only the beginning:

Some Americans are extremely price sensitive, and any increases may send them elsewhere, said John Gordon, principal at San Diego-based Pacific Management Consulting Group, an adviser to restaurants and franchisees.

 

If you encourage and kind of seed the notion that you can come in for a couple bucks and get some food -- and then you can’t do that anymore -- there’s bound to be a reaction,” he said.

There is also bound to be a reaction when the already broke US consumer maxes out their credit card on a telephone and forgets to eat.

The result has been that fast-food chains, long thought of as the cheapest place to grab a quick bite, may now have that reputation working against them, said Joel Cohen, president of Cohen Restaurant Marketing Group in Raleigh, North Carolina. The higher prices may be driving some customers to seek alternatives either at fast-casual chains like Panera Bread Co. (PNRA) or even at sit-down places, he said.

 

“It’s sticker shock,” Cohen said. “You’re up at price where you could just about be dining at a casual-dining restaurant.”

And when you hear the phrase "sticker shock" in the same sentence as a McDonalds dollar meal, you know the end is in sight.

 

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Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:25 | 5358840 IridiumRebel
IridiumRebel's picture

So a dollar meal is a couple bucks, now, huh?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:31 | 5358866 espirit
espirit's picture

When they cut back on restroom cleaning staff, I'll bypass.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:39 | 5358900 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

"Let them eat microcrystalline cellulose [wood pulp] at Taco Bell's Happy Hour...because, hedonic adjustments."

-- Janet BernYellen

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:41 | 5358907 ShortTheUS
ShortTheUS's picture

Just wait until their employees start making $15 and begin exhibiting a union work ethic.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:44 | 5358920 Stackers
Stackers's picture

2 pieces of dark meat for 99 cents at Church's Chicken every Tuesday !

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:52 | 5358967 chubbar
chubbar's picture

Is any of it chicken?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:14 | 5359077 BurningFuld
BurningFuld's picture

They use a combination of Red Dye N0.4 and charcol to get that color. AND charcol is very good for you if you are a plant.

 

I am of course just kidding.....I must say that, even though it should be obvious, to avoid being sued now.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:58 | 5359249 Stackers
Stackers's picture

Good question .... the sign just says "meat" .....

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:04 | 5359273 Leonardo Fibonacci2
Leonardo Fibonacci2's picture

MCD franchise owners should all be put in jail, millionaire wannabe's that don't give a fuck!

 

 

signed, "the clipboard guy"

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:15 | 5359307 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Hey stackers I think they can call it meat if 30% of the patty or more is actual meat, the rest of the crap is fillers like cellulose lol

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:47 | 5359467 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

sicker shock

that shit will poison you

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:52 | 5359483 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

Americans ought to consider this a blessing in disguise. Fast food really is unhealthy, because of the saturated fats.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 13:05 | 5359530 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Saturated fats are not unhealthy for active adults who derive their calories from unprocessed, unadulterated, clean meats and other sources of protein, fats and so forth.

America has an edible food-like, processed, non-nutritional, sugar-laden, white flour, artificial/lab developed "food" and sedentary lifestyle problem.

Eat buffalo, beef, lamb, all animals that are raised naturally and w/out (or at least very minimal) hormones or antibiotics, eat fats like oils from plants and even butter and cream if you are active, eat as much whole fruits & vegetables as you want.

Stay away from processed shit.

Fat intake is not the problem. Food manipulation, pollution & food engineering is the problem.

I'm 6'2", 218 pounds, with about 12% body fat, can run three
miles in 16: 22, and can legitimately do 50 pullups (with proper form; how many people can actually do 5 pullups using proper form?) in under 2 minutes, and I am a total red meat carnivore (all clean meat, raised by people who actually care).

I eat wtf I want as long as its unprocessed and free of chemicals, additives, and is not molecularly re-arranged in a lab.

See Gary Taubes.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 14:29 | 5360176 GeoTramp
GeoTramp's picture

Buffalos are from Africa, I think you mean bison...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 19:47 | 5361444 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

You are correct. The terms have gotten so intermingled as to be casually substituted for each other, but I should know better.

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 01:18 | 5362333 TeethVillage88s
TeethVillage88s's picture

Well heard an ad from Obama, he wants teens to finish high school...

I'm sure teens all know there are no jobs waiting... and robots are pro-creating at an exponential rate.

Hm... what does that do to a black man from a poor family. Low expectations, low future earnings, poor prognosis, low expectation of sense of purpose... under employment.... social unrest... activism... Social movements... repeat of the black panthers... repeat of Malcon X...

1970s style assassinations, government coups... Counter-culture movement... Alternative Energy Movement...

Thu, 10/23/2014 - 01:01 | 5366424 WTFRLY
WTFRLY's picture

McDonald's considers 'organics' after worst monthly sales growth in a decade
http://wtfrly.com/2014/10/22/mcdonalds-considers-organics-worst-monthly-...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 17:13 | 5360902 toxic8
toxic8's picture

You little beefcake ;-)

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:50 | 5359476 zuuma
zuuma's picture

Chopped, reprocessed feet, necks, & beaks.

Mostly chicken, some crow & pigeon - pressed into attractive mock chicken leg shapes.

Breaded with cellulostic filler & flour and geletin (cattle/ pig hoof based) binder. real eggs are so '90s.

With less than the allowable govt limit of mouse droppings, insect parts, & misc dirt/ stone frags.

So you know it's nutricious & SAFE.

Don't forget the simulated, high-fructose GMO corn syrup-sweetened BBQ sauce for dippin.

yummmmmm!

After your trip to the chicken stand, don't call me if you start crappin blood.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:42 | 5359182 XitSam
XitSam's picture

In my city, same at Popeye's for $1.29. Still good price.  It's one leg and one thigh.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:58 | 5359812 jmc8888
jmc8888's picture

Both owned by the same firm (Popeye's & Church's)

 

 

Chuch's is real meat though, you can watch them take the real pieces of chicken, batter it up, and fry it.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:44 | 5358921 pods
pods's picture

They could be putting ground up homeless people in their burgers and nobody would know.

pods

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:36 | 5359159 SilverIsKing
SilverIsKing's picture

The homeless people would know.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:50 | 5359479 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

but they'd be more nutritious

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:17 | 5359609 ejmoosa
ejmoosa's picture

and leaner...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 13:06 | 5359834 forexskin
forexskin's picture

the ad campaign:

soylent brown - its what you're made of!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:38 | 5358903 digitlman
digitlman's picture

Fun fact - the bathrooms in McDonalds in London are the most clean, free public bathrooms you will find.

 

Just don't eat there.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:44 | 5358918 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

McDonalds toilets really flush...

And they flush down all the mush.

McDonald's is our kind of place.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:12 | 5359070 negative rates
negative rates's picture

I thought you said the clown scared you from that place.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:52 | 5359487 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

he was talking about the white house

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 16:14 | 5360623 foodstampbarry
foodstampbarry's picture

Zerohedge would not be zerohedge without Wiliam. If William were to leave, the site would have to be shutdown.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:41 | 5358908 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Couple of eggs sunny-side (with Tabasco for some kick), some home made hash browns and a glass of OJ.

I bet it didn't take me any longer to make them than waiting at the McDonalds drive-through.  Cheaper, too.

Yes, I gotta clean the pan out afterwards, but teflon coated cookware makes that much less of a chore than it useed to be in the old days.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:42 | 5359188 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Properly seasoned cast iron is pretty damned easy to clean too.  You can have your old days and eat it too.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:57 | 5359492 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

and a bit of extra nutrition

especially for you girly types

oh, and handy in a sexual assault

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:47 | 5358916 dicksburnt
dicksburnt's picture

it was only a matter of time before the FED's game of "save market" would produce negative implications on the masses.   This is a bell weather of the american economy and when peeps are shunning the cheapest meal on the block you know it is not good.

This can easily be fixed though by McDonald's offering it's own VENDER CREDIT CARD!!  It can be backed by JPM and the peeps can apply right at the counter!!

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:28 | 5359131 Possible Impact
Possible Impact's picture

Payment is always due next Tuesday...

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:18 | 5359315 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

What was it that WImpey used to say on popeye's cartoon.  Something about lending me a burger today etc...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:44 | 5359743 TuesdayBen
TuesdayBen's picture

You got dinner plans, Gorgeous?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 14:24 | 5360145 cbxer55
cbxer55's picture

Something along the lines of "I'll gladly pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today". Probably not word for word correct, but close enough for a cigar.

I have not eaten at Mickie D's in so long, I forget what the fries taste like. ;-)

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 15:25 | 5360436 Possible Impact
Possible Impact's picture

 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=I%27ll+gladly+pay+you+Tue...

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today "I'd like you to lend me some money"

Etymology is from the cartoon "Popeye", where the character Wimpy would frequently utter this phrase. He was a glutton, and would consume burgers at a ferocious rate but could rarely pay for his habit.

The phrase implies the underlying feeling that the person will unlikely actually pay for the hamburger (or whatever) on Tuesday (or ever, for that matter.)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ6xBaZ92uA

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:49 | 5359756 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

CrackDonald's certainly isn't the cheapest and their food tastes like crap. A Big Mac meal costs $7 now. I can get a Mooyah burger and fries for about $1 more. I don't need the coke.

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 00:19 | 5362251 Freddie
Freddie's picture

McDonald's is also getting destroyed by Chick Fil A (CFA).  CFA has real food, they hire high school kids usually from Baptist churches and they are all polite.  The managers all want to get their own store someday because Chick Fil A gives it to them and they do a 50/50 split or something.

So you get quality food at the same price as McDonals, clean restaurants and a happy staff filled with the love of Jesus.   I almost feel sorry for McDonalds because Chick Fil A is destroying them.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:09 | 5359058 booboo
booboo's picture

"The chain’s diminishing appeal among budget diners -- coupled with rising meat costs -- are.........."

 

Meat? where? in the animal fat used to boil the fries.

Eat your pink slime and shut up.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:09 | 5359061 negative rates
negative rates's picture

12 oz is the new pound went without a whisper, so why not?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:46 | 5359204 robertsgt40
robertsgt40's picture

Folks had better start learning how to cook.  $5 blown at Mickey Ds will buy about 5lbs of chicken.  It's just math.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:11 | 5359289 Raging Debate
Raging Debate's picture

Robertsgt40 - $1.99 per pound at Sam Club x 5 pounds = $10. But I don't disagree with your general point. $3.50 lb for 90% ground beef at Sam's. Bag of rolls $2.00. Cheese ten cents a slice. Four quarter pounders at $3.50 each at Mcdonalds = $14 vs. four at home for $7 including pickles and such. Half price and the meat quality doesnt make you sick after and nor do you screw your own order up. Hamburgers take little time to cook and I watch a show when doing it.

Subway is decent. My gf gets a ln eggwhite flat-bread for $6.50 and loads it up with spinach leaves, onions and olives. I did the math and it would cost $4.50 to make at home. I can get full on a $5 meatball sub at Subway but Mcdonalds costs me $7 to get full eating double cheesburgers. And I like shit afterward eating them.

It is said you get what you pay for and
Mcdonalds paying people minimum wages and managers 1/3 less than the 1980's wages make for bad service and many dont habla english to boot.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:50 | 5359764 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

I can get chicken thighs for $1/lb or a whole chicken for $1.39/lb on sale. I have a large freezer in the gayrage. Beef prices have gone insane

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 13:26 | 5359899 Boxed Merlot
Boxed Merlot's picture

Beef prices have gone insane...

 

Agree.  But "have you seen Costco's broasted chickens?"  Hard to beat a 5 dollar 3lb fully cooked chicken.  When I get a real meat Jones goin' on though, I'll head off to one of the local Indian Casino's buffets.  Load up on at least 5 or 6 different meats that are actually composed of the animals and / or parts they purportedly represent with a tall glass of cranberry juice, livin' large now a days.

 

jmo. 

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 00:33 | 5362278 Freddie
Freddie's picture

I stopped eating red meat, almost entirely, about 20 + years ago.  I do eat some sweets/cookies (junk), but I do not have high blood pressure.  Family members, eat red meat and they do have high blood pressure. 

When I do eat red meat it feels like a lump inside.    I would almost go full vegitarian and do mainly Italian food and may still do it.  I cannot walk down the meat aisle and go out of my way not to eat any mammals.  The whole thing is just creepy to me.

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 00:13 | 5362239 TheWord
TheWord's picture

You've got a gayrage?  Is Michael Sam invited?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:26 | 5358843 digitlman
digitlman's picture

If they served real food, I might give a shit.

 

Since they don't - GOOD!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:49 | 5358944 pods
pods's picture

One of my neighbors had a kid that moved out. She asked if we wanted some Hot Pockets he left.

lol, no thanks. She can just throw them against the back of her toilet.

pods

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:55 | 5358981 LosOsos
LosOsos's picture

You'd be throwing them against the back of the toilet if you ate them as well

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:58 | 5359010 pods
pods's picture

(that's kind of why I said it like that)

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:54 | 5358977 codecode
codecode's picture

I had a really good blueberry muffin and small cup of coffee at one last week... I hope it was real?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:28 | 5358849 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Maybe they should try adding meat to their "burgers". 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:33 | 5358870 playnstocks
playnstocks's picture

But But the pink slime has such a tasty "meaty" flavor...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:36 | 5358887 espirit
espirit's picture

Food inflation?

Whocouldaknowed?

 

That's right, doesn't count.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:32 | 5358857 Space Animatoltipap
Space Animatoltipap's picture

McHorror is one of the disgraces of human civilisation. Monsanto another one and the dark FED cartel the original one. Hare Krishna.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:49 | 5358859 duo
duo's picture

There's a Torchy's Tacos (Austinites will know) and a McDs next door to each other a few blocks from home.  A giant breakfast taco with fajita meat and 3 real eggs is $3.50 at Torchys, yet the place is empty as dozens of cars line up for the GM/pesticide/HFCS/preservative/roach-parts food at McDonalds.  I mean SUVs are hitting each other trying to force their place in the drive-thru line.  All I can say is that crap must be addictive, like crack.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:49 | 5358953 Refuse-Resist
Refuse-Resist's picture

Upvote Torchy's

 

Brushfire for the win.

 

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:06 | 5359042 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Hrmm.  We have Blakes Lotaburger here.  People actually do show up to get their breakfast burritos.  But Blake's has an edge.  We put green chile on our green chile here, unless we're using red chile.  While we can get green chile on a Big Mac, it's not the real deal.  It's Bueno or some shit.  Blake's uses real chile.  The kind that makes your nose run. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:52 | 5359768 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

Torchy's is overpriced. I go to the real Mexican hole in the wall joints and get a taco for $1

I trust that the meat is as advertised.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 13:45 | 5360000 Peanut Butter E...
Peanut Butter Engineer's picture

It's hard to believe some real food are still cheap but it is at unadvertised small business!! We need some twitter birders to help them out.

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 00:39 | 5362290 Freddie
Freddie's picture

I am not sure about Texas but go to most of the SE USA, New Mexico and a few other places and Chick Fil A destrots McDonald's at lunch and dinner time.   In places like Charlotte, much of NC, SC, GA and N Florida - McDonalds are closing because Chick Fil A nukes them. 

Chick Fil A is more like what Ray Kroc created.  Clean, inexpensive, good food, great service, wonderful staff. 

McDonalds today are scenes for beatings, wildings, riots and shootings.  They wanted the NBA/NFL/Rap crowd and they got it.

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:31 | 5358868 dobermangang
dobermangang's picture

Looks like they'll have to lower prices.  The "dollar menu" is too expensive for the masses.  

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:57 | 5358993 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

That and raise everyone's pay to $15/hr.  A winning combination.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:08 | 5359051 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

BLEEP BLOOP BLEEP!  WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT SIR?  DANGER WILL ROBINSON!  DANGER!

 

$15/hr?  Not a problem.  It'll lower costs.

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 00:41 | 5362294 Freddie
Freddie's picture

LOL!  Dr. Smith in using the Robot's lubricating oil in the french fry fryers.

I almost never go into MCD's anymore but what kind of oil do they use on the fries now.  Berber King too.

The fries at Chick Fil A are awesome.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:33 | 5358869 agstacks
agstacks's picture

I'm Lovin' It™

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:45 | 5358924 Tsar Pointless
Tsar Pointless's picture

No other comments necessary. This one is the winner.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:32 | 5358872 replaceme
replaceme's picture

I used to be a twice a week McD guy, but the combination of price increase and meat decrease has me eating at the arches less than every other month.  It used to be a treat, after a long bike ride, something healthy - now it's what I do when there are absolutely no other options.  I never not regret a meal there. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:12 | 5359074 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

I used to eat there a lot too.  Now, it's been twice within the last year.  Once was when somebody was trying to be nice and just showed up with lunch, and the other time was trying to find something fast in Cuba, NM on my way up to CO when I was on a schedule.  Cuba used to have a reputation for the food either being really good, but you had to wait, or food poisoning, which is why I opted out of trying the Chaco Cafe.  Not saying its bad, but I wasn't going to take the chance.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:33 | 5359392 Herd Redirectio...
Herd Redirection Committee's picture

Haven't had as much as a fry or a 'chicken' nugget from them for something like 9 years!  And I still smirk every time I drive past a (PACKED) drive-through...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:34 | 5358875 Spungo
Spungo's picture

The recovery is so strong that Americans no longer need to buy the cheapest non-food in the world. Bullish!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:34 | 5358876 eucalyptus
eucalyptus's picture

should lower health care costs in the long run. excellent. mcd should crash and burn 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:35 | 5358883 nicoacademia
nicoacademia's picture

is the meat even real?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:43 | 5359191 SilverIsKing
SilverIsKing's picture

What meat?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:36 | 5358886 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

i wouldn't feed that shit to my dog (if i had one)

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:38 | 5358894 wmbz
wmbz's picture

It goes straight over my head how anyone in their right mind, could even come close to calling the shit that place serves food! Not that they are the lone ranger in the "fast food" department for selling gut bomb crap!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:18 | 5359098 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

We used to buy "breakfast" sandwiches there but over the past few years they have become just, well flavorless plasticy and gross. We now just buy ingredients and make it at home.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:38 | 5358897 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

Fuck the mega corp and their self proclaimed "food" packed with fillers, pink paste, and HFCS offerings.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:39 | 5358899 esum
esum's picture

busy chanting hands up dont shoot

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:38 | 5358901 mademesmile
mademesmile's picture

I don't think it's the price, it's what you GET for the price. I don't normally eat there, but on occasion will because the kids still view fries as a treat. The $1.00 hamburgers are the most pathetic thing you will ever eat. It's just whispy bread with a "meat" patty the size of a poker chip. And maybe a limp pickle slice for taste. I rember about 2 month back saying I won't be going back to support that nastyness. The healthier options like a salad are about $6.00 - ant the serving of protein is about 4 ounces. Just can't do it anymore.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:48 | 5358934 firstdivision
firstdivision's picture

Chipotle is way cheaper and you get two meals out of one bowl.  Heck the old lady and I split one bowl and one bag of chips which is healtier and fills us both up for cheaper than us going to any fast-food places.  When in a hurry Chipotle is where I go, otherwise sit-down place it is for out to eat days.  If I have to go through a drive-thru place it's Wendy's as their burgers are still meat. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:53 | 5358964 oudinot
oudinot's picture

Sorry to break the illusion, buddy, but chips ain'tn healthy.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:54 | 5358974 firstdivision
firstdivision's picture

Comparatively speaking of course, unless you think McD's fries are a great source of veggies.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:15 | 5359092 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

What's not healthy about them?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:12 | 5359294 pods
pods's picture

They are chips.  Empty calories devoid of anything nutritious.

In Amerika, we have zero problems with lack of calories.

It is the nutrients that are lacking.

pods

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 13:39 | 5359982 skipjack
skipjack's picture

The crap they're sprayed with before cooking and the rancid gmo vegetable oil they're fried in...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:41 | 5358909 kowalli
kowalli's picture

You can choose a poison for 1$ menu

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:41 | 5358910 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

Pink Slime anyone?  These CEO's are out of touch. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:42 | 5358912 hotrod
hotrod's picture

I went through the drive in and asked which burgers were 100% beef because I had allergys to wood(cellulose fillers) and pink slime additives.  The girl said the meat did not have wood in it.  I said well it has a derivative of wood which is the cellulose meat extender. She said let me get my manager.  I sat there 5 minutes.  Guy gets on the speaker and says  It might be best if I try the chicken.

Try it see what happens.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:59 | 5359816 TuesdayBen
TuesdayBen's picture

I was behind you.  Take the pop quiz inside next time, HotRod.  By the way, your driver's side brake light is out.

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 00:49 | 5362297 Freddie
Freddie's picture

LOL!  The chicken is worse!  It is filled with silicon.  When the mcnuggets came out many years ago, I always thought they tasted like plastic. 

http://www.foodmatters.tv/articles-1/whats-really-in-chicken-mcnuggets-s...

The only thing decent there was the fish sandwich but those are the size of a postage stamp and it is probably ground up any kind of fish aka chum.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:43 | 5358917 Spastica Rex
Spastica Rex's picture

They just need to spend more money on marketing.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:52 | 5358963 pods
pods's picture

lol, their ads look like the Benneton ads from the 80's.

pods

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:00 | 5359014 Spastica Rex
Spastica Rex's picture

I often wonder if there's a point in a "capitalist" system where self-interest will simply overwhelm deception through marketing.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:23 | 5359116 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

I had to go look Bennetton up, not being familiar with them and all.  Jesus, are they proud of their shit.  $120 for a pre-faded (read: doesn't last as long) denim pants?  Fuck that shit.  Why the fuck would anybody pay that much to look like a metrosexual faux hobo?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:39 | 5359176 morongobill
morongobill's picture

Come on now. Was it really necessary to bring the metrosexuals into this? They wouldn't be caught dead ina Mickie Deez!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:47 | 5359213 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

I bet Pajama Boy shops there.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:51 | 5359234 Spastica Rex
Spastica Rex's picture

They once had a great Formula One team.

Benetton was the apex of mid-eighties mall-chic.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:13 | 5359281 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Which is probably why I had never heard of them.  I almost never watched Formula One and I was never into mall-chic.  Ever. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:16 | 5359088 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

B....b...but they have the McNopoly game!  Park avenue prices for Baltic avenue quality food.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:44 | 5358922 replaceme
replaceme's picture

Here's a question, what food chains are going up, any?  Is the slack getting picked up by the packaged lunch meat industry?  Should I be bullish peanut butter and jelly?  Looking around, we're not missing meals.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:00 | 5359019 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Growing up as a kid in a divorced household, money was tight.  We lived on PB&J sandwiches.  But I can tell you that kids today, most of them, have never eaten a PB&J.  I dunno what it is.  Fear of peanut allergies?  Don't remember anyone having peanut allergies 30-40 years ago, either.  

PB&Js have fallen WAY off the "every kid in town eats it" list.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:18 | 5359097 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

Unfortunately it's hard to find jelly this isn't make with HFCS any longer.  They're putting that poison in everything today!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:25 | 5359343 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

I saw a bunch of people at my local park picking up the pecans from the trees and they were pulling up in nice new cars, when I see the bags at costco go for 18 dollars for a medium sized bag of nuts one can understand that the sheeple are waking up

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:38 | 5359407 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Make your own.  It's not hard.  I made probably 2 gallons of grape jelly this year.  I only got about 2 quarts of strawberry jam this year, though there a bunch of strawberries still coming in a small patch that I have, so I'll get more. 

Thu, 10/23/2014 - 14:44 | 5368361 Moustache Rides
Moustache Rides's picture

it's not hard to find jelly with regular sugar in it and no HFCS.  It's just alot more expensive.

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:44 | 5359453 Raging Debate
Raging Debate's picture

NoDebt - Peanut butter isn't cheap nowadays. Used to love toasted peanut butter and bananas. Yum!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:57 | 5359805 FrankDrakman
FrankDrakman's picture

How do you figure "not cheap" for peanut butter? I bought 750g jars last week for $2.99 Cdn. Got 8 jars, now have a whole year's supply for $0.50/week.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 13:06 | 5359842 TuesdayBen
TuesdayBen's picture

Peanuts are cheap, too - 11.75oz. bag for $1.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 20:26 | 5361590 tvdog
tvdog's picture

27 required inoculations using peanut oil adjuvants will create a lot of peanut allergies.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:46 | 5358926 ES-Sniper
ES-Sniper's picture

Likely the high in sales times out to just before they started posting the calories on the menu

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:48 | 5358937 tawdzilla
tawdzilla's picture

Their food does not taste like food.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:21 | 5359106 tawdzilla
tawdzilla's picture

Apparently, somebody likes the taste of warmed up plastic.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:47 | 5358939 STG5IVE
STG5IVE's picture

And yet, given all the bad news, the MCD candlesticks cannot get any greener.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:48 | 5358941 yogibear
yogibear's picture

A Federal Reserve bankster production. Trying to pump ever more asset inflation.

In the meantime their subprime housing loans are being pushed again.

Fog a mirror? Looks like you can afford a house. We have a loan for you.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/201867b2791d450687fbc7b4ece5bbf4/us-regul...

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal regulator says government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have reached an agreement with major banks that could expand lending.

The head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie and Freddie, announced the deal Monday at a conference of the Mortgage Bankers Association in Las Vegas. FHFA Director Mel Watt said the deal clarifies conditions in which banks could be required to buy back mortgages they sell to Fannie and Freddie for misrepresenting the loans' risks.

 

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:49 | 5358945 CoastalCowboy
CoastalCowboy's picture

I once puked up a McD's meal after riding my mountain bike too hard too soon after eating.  We went back to the same trail a week later, and the remnants of my meal appeared exactly the same as they appeared when I left them.  Even the varmints refused to partake.  Hell,  it's probably still there as-is 15 years later.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:50 | 5358946 swass
swass's picture

I used to stop in every once in a while on the way to work for breakfast, and I have noticed a fairly high amount of inflation in all their prices over the last year.  My coffee went up over 100%, and meal itself was up a solid 30-40%.  I no longer go there.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:49 | 5358947 taketheredpill
taketheredpill's picture

 

 

"higher wages"

 

MCD just keeps giving workers raises, raises, and more raises.  No wonder so many former middle-managers want to work there.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:49 | 5358949 Duc888
Duc888's picture

They should try selling food there, it just might work.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:56 | 5358950 ekm1
ekm1's picture

It will get a lot lot lot lot lot worse, until ultra elite start assassinating each other.

 

Supply chains are breaking down. World trade is going down the drain.

World elite no longer wants to deal with USA and EU elite.

Military has revolted against USA elite. Only assassinations among USA elite solve this issue or voluntary surrender like in 2008 with Lehman, Bear stearns etc 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:16 | 5359089 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Lets start with you, have you been audited lately? Didn't think so, I'll send Bruno and Rocko over there to check ur finances.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:50 | 5358955 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

When McDonald's banned their smoking policy, the smell of the food really hit home. The franchise smells like a sweaty armpit and bleach masking the aroma of soybean burgers. 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 13:42 | 5359990 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

Soybean would actually be healthy. I doubt tht more than 50% of the meat patty is food

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:54 | 5358959 One And Only
One And Only's picture

OMG as soon as a black guy started running Mcdonalds it started losing money. 

Oh man. Diversity.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:37 | 5359166 morongobill
morongobill's picture

Say what? When did that happen?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:16 | 5359604 Kprime
Kprime's picture

lol, keep watching, just before it goes into bankruptcy they will put a woman in charge

Wed, 10/22/2014 - 00:53 | 5362309 Freddie
Freddie's picture

You mean Stan O'Neil who destroyed Merrill Lynch?

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:52 | 5358966 Its_the_economy...
Its_the_economy_stupid's picture

I'm going long consumer staples!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:59 | 5359000 mastersnark
mastersnark's picture

*Obviously* the economy is doing so well folks are turning from MCD to Smith & Wollensky, or maybe a Sizzler if the bus doesn't get close to S&W.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:03 | 5359029 Shizzmoney
Shizzmoney's picture

Great news for liberty

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:09 | 5359063 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

McSoylent Green is not food...

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:13 | 5359068 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

But what about the dramatic drop in WTI?

Shouldn't that red-herring be reducing the dollar menu appreciably so that the whole family can hunker down and enjoy a plate of chemical laden goodness at a far more reasonable price courtesy of the Saudi Royal family???...

I say Bandar "Bush" needs to up the ante with a few commercial plugs with Ronald McDonald for all the lemmings in the United States to reassure them that that healthy meal at their nearest "I'm lovin' it" will be getting a whole lot cheaper...  Let Bandar tell the American people on the floor of the Senate that he expects oil to drop below $60.00 a barrel?  That should fix everything -including his own profit margins!

By the way where is that rascal Bandar these dayz???...  He's a very hard guy to find since 2012!!!!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:25 | 5359120 Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel's picture

The local Chinese folks always choose KFC over MCD. Even with clean toilets.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:27 | 5359126 studfinder
studfinder's picture

I still remember in the mid 90s getting 2 big macs for $2...  finishing both would about put you in the hospital... 

 

 

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:31 | 5359135 steveharless
steveharless's picture

Macdonalds is my kind of place....they throw hamburgers in your face; and tomatoes up your nose and french fries between your toes.....

Soon Macdonalds will be like Detroit and will need a bailout from the government!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:32 | 5359147 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Obligatory donk in a McDonalds thread:

 

http://www.donks.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/McDonalds.jpg

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:43 | 5359186 PhotonJohn
PhotonJohn's picture

Has anyone else noticed the declining quality of fast casual places like Pei Wei? It is not even the same restaraunt of 3 years ago. They even insult you with this 1, 2, 3 menu.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:50 | 5359226 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

They've gotta keep their prices suppressed as much as possible.  This will inevetably lead to a decline in quality.  If you see a 25% increase in prices at the grocery store and only a 10% increase at fast food joints, you know there is some filler being applied.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:52 | 5359230 FreeNewEnergy
FreeNewEnergy's picture

I used to go for the dollar menu items, but first, they lopped one slice of cheese off the double cheeeezburger and started calling it the McDouble (with two patties and one slice of cheese), then they raised the small fries from $1 to $1.29. Then they raised the price of the McDouble to 1.29 or higher. This was all in about a 2-year span, during which I changed from once a week mickey d's to once a month to now, NOT AT ALL.

I'm generally a healthy eater, so McD's was kind of a foolish treat when I was on the road and/or lazy, but, the food is shit and my home-cooked meals from my garden are far superior.

My last stand was on the breakfast menus. They are still charging a buck for a McSausage Buscuit or Sausage muffin, but they are crap and not even very tasty. Haven't eaten a thing from McDonald's in over two months and hope to never eat there ever again. Same for Puko Bull, Booger King, Kentucky Flea'd Chicken and Pass Windy's.

Death to the corporate poison factories. Long live greasy spoon mom and pop restaurants.

While they're at it, how about a mass bombing of say, 100-200 Walmart's, a la Fight Club. Would be a good start.

Fuck Wall Street. Let all these corporations die nasty deaths and let's start the rebuilding of America from the farm and garden up.

Yeah, and don't buy nails at home depot. Made in China, they bend when you try to pound them into PINE, for God's sake. No lie. I have some to prove my point. With Chinese building materials in wide use, those ghost cities should self-destruct in about another 5-7 years. A collapse we can believe in. Thar's some hope and change for ya.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:25 | 5359344 mastersnark
mastersnark's picture

Nice well rounded rant, you had a good anchor with the anecdotes, but you forgot to mention GMO or the Fed so I'm giving you a 8.9.

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:28 | 5359355 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Soon the cardboard containers will taste better, and you will be chucking the contents

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 12:52 | 5359770 FrankDrakman
FrankDrakman's picture

Too the really value conscious, the McDouble is a god send, because if you add lettuce ($0.20) and Mac sauce ($0.25), for less than $2, you have, to all intents and purposes, a Big Mac (minus the centre bun and the sesame seeds).

Two of these and a diet Coke is $5. My local greasy spoon charges $5 for bacon and eggs in the morning, and they don't include coffee with that!

Added benefit - since it's a special order, you won't get one that's been wilting under the heat lamps for half an hour.

I agree that it's not the best food for you, and I haven't had one of these since June, but when you're on the road in a strange town and in a hurry, it's a quick, reliable meal, and virtually the only reason I visit McD's any more.  

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:57 | 5359243 Billy Shears
Billy Shears's picture

Remember this: ALWAYS VOTE W/YOUR FIAT! It is the only practical tool we have left, even with its de minimis value. Refrain from spending that benefits mega corporations, especially the like of McDonalds, purveyors of the worlds most unhealthy foods. Businesses are still subject to the forces of consumers generally so demand better/the best at the most competitive price or GO WITHOUT! This is one the most and last strategies (and leverage) we have left as consumers to influence the future design of OUR world the which TPTB are determined to rule anyway, short of all out revolution. NEEDS NOT WANTS!

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 11:03 | 5359264 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

My local FOX station says it's because people are eating healthier foods now like, Chipoatley*.

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