Have 1 in 8 Americans really worked at McDonald’s?

Oct 24, 2024
Donald Trump worked a recent shift at the fast-food giant, while Kamala Harris said she worked there when she was a college student.
Former President Donald Trump works behind the counter during a campaign event at a McDonald's on Oct. 20.
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Demand for crispy french fries has gotten a tad soggy

Oct 21, 2024
Lamb Weston, the Idaho-based maker of frozen potato products, has been struggling as of late.
The Idaho-based supplier of McDonald's french fries saw its stock price drop more than 30% at one point this year.
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Are McDonald’s collector cups worth more than the liquid assets inside?

Aug 27, 2024
McDonald's has released multiple cup collections over the years. We spoke to a memorabilia expert on whether you should buy, sell or hold.
McDonald's has released Collector's Edition Cups that feature characters like Grimace, Hello Kitty, Shrek and Barbie.
McDonald's USA, LLC

California's fast-food workers got a big pay hike. Franchise owners say they're struggling.

Aug 19, 2024
The state's $20-an-hour mandate pressures some outlets to raise prices and risk turning away low-income customers.
Jaylene Loubet, a McDonald’s cashier and fast-food worker advocate, says the pay boost helps cover her family's expenses.
Megan Jamerson/KCRW

McDonald's sales slipped. That may mean lower-income consumers feel pinched.

Jul 29, 2024
Reporting quarterly results, the fast-food company said customers "continue to be more intentional with the dollars they spend."
McDonald's weak results are prompting varied interpretations. Maybe consumers are tightening their budgets, or maybe they're moving higher up the food chain.
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Fast-food chains may need to offer more value meals to lure customers

May 13, 2024
McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut have reported soft sales as customers reject inflated prices. That means franchises have to get creative.
Fast-food restaurants hope that meal deals will bring back patrons who feel that eating out has become too expensive.
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The days of free refills may be over

May 13, 2024
McDonald’s announced that it would phase out its self-service machines by the end of 2032. More restaurants may follow suit.
Self-serve refill machines will be phased out at McDonald's by 2032.
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For public good, not for profit.

How expensive fast food can explain rising economic equality

Jan 17, 2024
Fast food workers' wages are up as much as 30% since 2020. That has had real costs for businesses, but real benefits for society.
In the fast food sector, where many workers in the bottom 10% of the income distribution are employed, wages went up by 5.7% when adjusted for inflation between 2020 and 2022, says Eric Levitz of Vox.
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Can McDonald's latest venture satisfy consumers' thirst for specialty beverages?

Dec 20, 2023
The chain's new cafe concept, CosMc's, wants a sip of Starbucks' or Dunkin' Donuts' market share.
McDonald's recently launched CosMc's to compete with drink purveyors like Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.
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On McDonald's Investor Day, more data on how its small format restaurants are doing

Dec 6, 2023
With changing patterns of dining, how are small format restaurants, like McDonald's CosMc, shaping up?
CosMc, a new concept restaurant by McDonald's, is based on a McDonald's character of the same name from outer space.
Shammi Mehra/AFP via Getty Images