Increased Food Prices Mean Changes Are on the Horizon for McDonald's Dollar Menu

Get your $1 double cheeseburgers at McD's while you can - they're not likely to be around much longer! With ingredient costs on the rise and a significant increase in the cost of beef, McDonald's may raise prices on some of its popular dollar menu items, including the beloved double cheeseburger.

The dollar menu makes up about 14% of the company's total US sales. Back in May McDonald's execs assured us that consumers would be spared the brunt of the increased cost of food, and that they had no plans to deviate from their "everyday affordability" concept. Now, however, it seems that some changes may in fact be in store.

Ralph Alvarez, COO at McDonald's, acknowledged the growing cost pressures on the dollar menu this week, stating:

"The cost implications of having that value menu have changed when you see what's going on in beef and chicken. The way the dollar menu looks today won't be the way it looks next year."

"..in this current environment, we've got to make sure we're pricing smart, not just pricing low," he added.

Alvarez didn't go into details on how the dollar menu may change. However, tests have been under way in some select markets. One of the tests has supposedly been to raise the price of the double cheeseburger, the anchor sandwich of the dollar menu and Mickey D's best-selling sandwich in the US.