PHOENIX — A simple burger, fries and a drink...how much can that cost?
Depending on the fast food place you choose now, it's probably costing you more than $10.
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In-N-Out, the California burger chain long known for low prices that didn't seem to change that much, confirmed to multiple outlets that it's raised its prices in California to accommodate a new $20 minimum wage law in that state.
It's the latest casualty in "fast casual' restaurants that have been hit by inflation for years.
According to the National Restaurant Association, the rate that menu prices have been increasing has slowed over the last year, but not decreasing.
“The last thing you ever want to do is have to raise menu prices," Arizona Restaurant Association President Steve Churcri said. "But sadly, we've had to do that in the past 24 months.”
Price pressure can come from a variety of places, Chucri said. The cost of food has gone up, real estate prices can push menu prices higher. And, as in In-N-Out's case, minimum wage increases are passed on to consumers on the menus.
"Every major brand has had to do it," Chucri said. "The value meals may not seem to be all that valuable anymore."
12News hit up four fast food chains for lunch to find out what the tab would be for a typical combo.
At McDonald's, a Big Mac combo cost $11.27. In the AP archives, we found a photo of a McDonald's receipt from 2008 showing a Happy Meal, two Quarter Pounder with cheese meals and three drinks for $11.31.
Whataburger's single burger combo without cheese came in at $11.27.
In-N-Out's Double-Double combo came to $10.49.
The cheapest we found was at Taco Bell, where a three-taco combo with a drink came to $8.89.
“This is just a snapshot in time as we go forward," Chucri said. "Hey, menu prices can come down, especially in the quick service area, so just bear with us. We know how important you are to our industry.”
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