McDonald's Leans on Value Deals to Lure Diners

The fast-food chain is pushing lower-priced meals and promotions as U.S. customers cut back on dining out.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Inflation

Wide, quiet photograph of an empty single-story fast-food building and parking lot under flat overcast daylight, with a lone lamp post. — McDonald's is pushing extra-value meals and its Monopoly promotion to win back U.S. diners who have cut back on restaurant visits amid rising living costs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Have you cut back on eating out at fast food restaurants this year?

McDonald's is emphasizing lower-priced meals and promotions as U.S. customers pull back on eating out, and its U.S. sales have begun to improve. The chain has not cut prices across its entire menu.

Why it matters

Rising living costs have led customers to cut back on restaurant visits, pushing chains to compete harder on price. Restaurant traffic remains below year-ago levels, so the value strategy is an attempt to win back diners who have turned to cheaper alternatives.

Promotions include a $2 breakfast sandwich and free fries with a $1 minimum purchase, while about one-third of franchisees did not take part in the under-$3 menu. Restaurant traffic remains below year-ago levels, and the extent of the sales recovery has not been quantified.

The players

McDonald's

The global fast-food chain is restructuring its menu pricing and promotions to respond to weaker U.S. demand.

Nagham Hassan

An analyst at eToro who warned that deals may be patchy and recovery slow if franchisees bear the cost.

The details

McDonald's is using targeted deals such as extra-value meals and the Monopoly promotion to bring back diners who have shifted to cheaper competitors, convenience stores or cooking at home. The company announced its 'NEXT' turnaround strategy in June and uses machine-learning tools to set an 'optimal price' for menu items at each restaurant.

June: McDonald's announced its NEXT turnaround strategy.
September and October: The CEO described baseline traffic trends as encouraging.
End of 2027: McDonald's aims to expand its Archie AI drive-thru ordering assistant to most U.S. restaurants.

Macro View

The current push echoes the value-menu wave U.S. fast-food chains adopted during the 2008-2009 recession, when cheaper bundles became a standard tool to retain price-sensitive diners. Today's version is tied to rising living costs that have pushed households to cut back on dining out.

Value deals like a $2 breakfast sandwich and free fries with a $1 minimum purchase can lower the cost of a quick meal for budget-conscious households. Availability may vary, since about one-third of franchisees did not take part in the under-$3 menu.

The takeaway

Watching for promotions can stretch a restaurant budget, but deal availability may differ by location. Comparing the price of a combo against cooking at home can show where the real savings are.