McDonald's Sales Growth Slows Amid Customer Dissatisfaction

McDonald's has reported a decline in U.S. sales growth, with a modest 0.8% increase in the second quarter of 2026. This is significantly smaller than the company's first-quarter growth of 3.9%. Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski attributed the slowdown to poor execution, stating that 'we don't have a strategy problem. We simply didn't execute at the level we needed to in the second quarter.'

Customers are also expressing dissatisfaction with McDonald's prices and value proposition. On social media platforms such as Reddit, users have been complaining about the rising cost of meals, with some citing prices as high as $9.99 for a Quarter Pounder with cheese.

In an effort to address these concerns, McDonald's is launching its 'NEXT' strategy, which aims to elevate menu offerings and introduce AI/automated processes. The company will also retrain its restaurant crew on providing gold standard taste, quality, and hospitality.

Despite these efforts, some customers may still be deterred by the high prices. To save money at McDonald's, consumers can use the app to score exclusive deals and take advantage of value-priced options such as the EDAP menu, which features meals under $3.