Even Mcdonald's is raising its prices
The 99p cheeseburger—a staple of the McDonald’s Saver Menu. A culinary delight after a night out. A student’s best friend. It’s now no more, sitting as it does at an insulting £1.19. Now, only the Chicken Mayo burger remains in the 99p club.
More price increases are due, too, concerning McFlurries and large meals. These are so often plagued by supply issues; sometimes, it seems as if most of the fast-food giant’s menu has already gone. It might sound like I care far too much about McDonald’s (to an extent, you’d be right), but this shows more than most examples the state of the UK economy. One of the largest businesses in the world, and certainly one of the most recognisable, is having to make changes, thanks to rising inflation.
In truth, it’s becoming really boring seeing price rises and watching rich folk buy new Aston Martins. It seems like all that makes the news nowadays involves the cost-of-living crisis—sadly, this is the world we live in. It’s quite scary as a student going to university, thinking of both my short-term and long-term future. In the short term, money could so easily become an issue whilst I’m at university, just like it is already for many other students, some of whom live below the poverty line. Longer term, will there be jobs when I graduate? Will the economy be in a position by then to let me live a good life? Will the dream of a nice house, a car, and a family be possible in Britain, come the 2030s?
McDonald’s cheeseburgers were always a backup option for students when money became really tight. They’re not healthy, but at 99p, its essentially survival food. Maybe we should just cancel our Netflix subscriptions and we’ll be fine; according to this article, I’d soon be able to afford a house.
We know that McDonald’s hasn’t kept its cheeseburger at 99p because there haven’t been any increases in the cost of its ingredients during the last fifteen years. However, until now, McDonald’s has chosen to absorb these higher costs to remain competitive and to keep their loyal customers. Now, they feel that the economy is in such a state that their 99p value item can no longer be sold so cheaply. Maybe this is thanks to inflation, or maybe they just felt they could get away with the price increase, as so many other companies are hiking their prices in the current climate. This may sound harsh, and you may possibly believe that I wear a tinfoil hat, but I have so little trust in the world at the moment that I can’t help but think like this.
It seems everyone is on strike at the moment—whether this involves railway workers, postmen, bus drivers or BT staff; a new disagreement seems to hit the news every day. Is anything being done about this? Yes, but not in the way you may think…the only reactions to current strikes are direct attacks on our freedom and democracy, as the Tories try to ban striking within public services. Even on days that we should be celebrating achievements such as England’s women’s team winning the Euros, we can’t forget how stretched our finances are, nor relieve the worry around the price of fuel. Will it be long before we can’t even afford to get to work?
The wool is being pulled over our eyes on a daily basis. Take the BT workers who are, quite rightly, striking, after being told they’d receive a £1,500 pay increase. An increase that, essentially, doesn’t exist, thanks to inflation, and despite numerous conglomerates announcing record-breaking profits. Whilst the pandemic brought us together as a country, the cost-of-living crisis will drive us apart once again. Opinions will differ so much on topics such as strikes and who the PM should be that avoiding conversation might actually be easier.
I despise the idea that our country, once again, won’t be united—that class divides will become so much more prominent. That poverty will be common. It’s quite simply delusional to think what is happening is okay. Something must change, and that doesn’t mean raising the prices of everything. The general public doesn’t have the answers, because that’s not our job. World leaders need to stand up for their people instead of lurking in the shadows for personal gain, something else that’s becoming all too common.
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