Erlinger acknowledged that he and many franchisees were frustrated by a post on X last summer about a Big Mac meal in Connecticut that cost $18, calling the price “an exception.” He noted that franchisees own and operate 95% of U.S. McDonald’s locations and set their own pricing but “work hard to minimize the impact of price increases.”

A McDonald's is pushing back on reports that its menu price hikes are greater than the inflationary rates. The average cost of a Big Mac is $5.29, according to a company executive.