REUTERS/Molly Riley
Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a more expensive bun.
During a time when many businesses were ripped by the recession, the Golden Arches achieved relative stability. As The Street noted last week, by keeping prices low and introducing new twists like its McCafe lineup of caffeinated cravings, McDonald’s kept a pulse behind its profits. (See a McDonald’s ad in TIME’s top 10 embarrassing celebrity commercials)
Despite a recent quarterly gain of 10.3%, Chicago Breaking Business reported on Friday that the burger giant is preparing itself for burgeoning costs. For the first time in more than a year, the fast-food chain anticipates it will raise its prices by 2-3 percent in the U.S. and Europe. The move will reportedly compensate for rising costs on key ingredients like bread and meat. (See the top 10 worst fast-food meals.)
No word on how the 2011 cash crunch will affect the restless, relentless quest of McRib addicts.