Kevin Roberts remembers when he could get a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a drink from Five Guys for $10. But that was years ago. When the Virginia high school teacher recently visited the fast-food chain, the food alone without a beverage cost double that amount.

Roberts, 38, now only gets fast food “as a rare treat,” he told CBS MoneyWatch. “Nothing has made me cook at home more than fast-food prices.”

Roberts is hardly alone. Many consumers are expressing frustration at the surge in fast-food prices, which are starting to scare off budget-conscious customers.

A January poll by consulting firm Revenue Management Solutions found that about 25% of people who make under $50,000 were cutting back on fast food, pointing to cost as a concern.

  • @BonesOfTheMoon
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    17 months ago

    We have this local market with an excellent hot food and submarine bar in my work neighbourhood, and it’s the only place I ever go. Not only is it super inexpensive, the people who own it won the lottery some years ago and just don’t charge you tax. The price says 6 dollars, it’s 6 dollars. You buy a few things, she rounds down the price to 10 bucks at the register. The place is always packed with those in the know, and they must make a ton of money even doing it this way. Explore your local hole in the wall places and support local and eat better if you are able. It’s worth the effort and time rather than giving McDonald’s more money.

    We also have a local dumpling place where I get a huge box of veggie dumplings for 8 bucks. It’s just a little nothing of a storefront. It’s fantastic.