A recent analysis by the New York Post has shown that fast food prices have seen an uptick in California following the implementation of new legislation that introduces a $20 minimum wage for employees at restaurant chains with 60 or more locations nationwide, with the exception of bakeries that produce and sell their own bread. This legislative change encapsulated in AB 1228 and signed by far-lft Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom last September not only raises wages but also forms a “Fast Food Council” tasked with potential further wage increases and setting working condition standards.
Notably, Burger King witnessed one of the most significant price jumps, with the Texas Double Whopper meal escalating from $15.09 to $16.89 on April 1st, marking an almost 12% increase. Similarly, the Big Fish meal saw a 53% rise from $7.49 to $11.49. Other menu items across various chains experienced more modest hikes, ranging from 25 cents to a dollar.
However, the Post’s investigation found that not all chains adjusted their prices in response to the wage increase. For instance, Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, and McDonald’s maintained their prices, despite one McDonald’s franchise owner expressing to CNNBusiness the challenges posed by the sudden wage surge. “As a business owner, when you’re dealing with this kind of extraordinary overnight change, you know, a 25% increase in wages,… (no) stone has to remain unturned,” said McDonald’s franchisee Scott Rodrick. “And so we have looked at price, although I can’t charge $20 for a Happy Meal. My customers’ appetite to absorb menu board prices is not unlimited.”
In 2022, the median hourly wage for fast-food workers in the U.S. stood at $13.43, while their counterparts in California earned slightly more, averaging $16.60, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the new wage law, the annual income for these workers would amount to $41,600.
Fox News Digital reached out to several fast-food chains, including Burger King, In-N-Out, Hart House, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, and McDonald’s for comments on the price adjustments, but responses were pending at the time of the report.
Thousands of fast-food workers jobless as Cali’s $20 minimum wage kicks in
Has anyone notified the queen of the Democratic governors tolite seat in Santa Fe about this?
We only get $12.00 and hour… I mean like…WTF over? Can the tolite seat queen please put this on next years agenda to get it up to at least $15 an hour? I’m thinking $20 an hour would be great for the 2026 session. (insert sarcasm please).
Democrats… They are all designed to be the 13th wonder of the world of stupidity… that is not sarcasm however, that is a fact.