In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger has increased prices for some items at its California locations to support a $2.00 per hour raise for its workers, following the state’s minimum wage increase for fast food employees.
Since April 1, the cost of a Double-Double burger, fries, and a drink has gone up by $0.25 to $0.50, depending on the location, the burger chain confirmed.
“We only increase menu prices when absolutely necessary, as we did on April 1st this year in our California restaurants,” said In-N-Out Owner and President Lynsi Snyder in a statement. “Ensuring the best value for our customers has always been very important to us, and it will continue to be.”
The Fast Act, which took effect on April 1, raised the starting wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour, up from the previous $16 standard. Executives at chains such as McDonald’s and Chipotle have announced plans to raise prices in response to the wage hikes.
In Los Angeles County, the Double-Double combo now costs $11.44, marking a $0.76 increase from last year’s price, as reported by KTLA-TV.
Price increases have also been reported at locations in San Francisco and Daly City, as noted by Bay Area station KRON-TV.
The starting wage for In-N-Out employees in California is now $22 to $23 per hour, according to In-N-Out Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick.
In-N-Out President Fought to Prevent Price Increases Snyder has been vocal about protecting prices at the West Coast’s favorite burger chain when possible.
In an April interview with NBC’s TODAY, Snyder said that throughout her career, she has tried to avoid raising prices as frequently as other fast-food chains.
“I was in VP meetings, arguing fiercely that we couldn’t raise prices that significantly,” Snyder said. “It felt like a duty to prioritize our customers’ interests.”
Fast Food Prices Up 4.8% Since 2023 Fast food prices have increased by 4.8% since last year and 47% since 2014, while general inflation has risen by 24%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A recent USA Today report used survey information from a team of reporters in 18 markets across the country to compare prices over the past 10 years.
The survey revealed that the average cost of a medium Big Mac meal has increased from $5.69 in 2014 to $9.72 in 2024, marking a rise of approximately 70%. Prices for this meal varied, with Houston offering it for $7.89, while in Seattle, the price reached $15.
