McDonald’s has seen its worst drop in sales in the U.S. since 2020 as cost-conscious customers cut back

McDonald’s recently revealed that same-store sales in the US have dropped 3.6%, the chain’s worst quarterly decrease since the 2020 pandemic. According to the fast food juggernaut, customers from lower- and increasingly middle-class backgrounds are coming in less frequently and forgoing meals like breakfast in order to save money.

“Consumers today are grappling with uncertainty,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said, pointing out that visitor numbers are declining across important groups. Additionally, for the third time in four quarters, the chain failed to meet revenue projections.

Trump’s tariff policies have contributed to economic strain, inflation, and a rise in anti-American sentiment overseas, particularly in Europe and Canada, according to executives.

In spite of the downturn, McDonald’s is sticking to its 2025 projection and intends to open 2,200 new locations, relying on fresh promotions and value offers like its impending Minecraft movie tie-in to boost sales.