McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal Has Mixed Results, According to Experts

McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal, which was touted as an exciting addition to the summer menu, is seeing mixed results for the fast-food chain nationwide.

BTIG analyst Peter Saleh evaluated a series of franchise checks for the burger giant for TheStreet and discovered that customers weren’t exactly flocking to the restaurants.

“We note that comparisons ease in July, with the current month impacted by the timing of the July 4th holiday and Hurricane Beryl in Texas,” he said in a note obtained by Seeking Alpha.

Saleh, however, also noted that despite the challenges, McDonald’s experienced a “soft but slightly positive sales growth.” However, the numbers weren’t as high as originally thought or promised. He also said that it was “too early to know” whether the $5 Meal Deal would help with long-term growth and/or profits, and that the promotion would be extended to September.

According to a survey by LendingTree, 62% of all Americans say that they are not eating as much fast food due to rising prices. And, based on Saleh’s data, it seems that they are not inspired to enjoy McDonald’s limited-time discounts quite yet.

However, Placer.ai’s research shows slightly different results. According to the company, which monitors the foot traffic at restaurants and retailers, “The Tuesday of the launch — June 25th — was McDonald’s busiest Tuesday of the year thus far (outpaced since by July 2nd), drawing 8.0% more visits than the year-to-date Tuesday average. And similar patterns repeated across all days following the launch, signifying how well-received this special has been among McDonald’s fans.”

McDonald’s introduced the $5 Meal Deal on June 25 and made clear that it would only be available for a limited time.

For $5, customers can enjoy a four-piece Chicken McNuggets, small fries, a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, and a small soft drink. The goal of this deal is to give customers an excellent meal at an amazing price.

Local deals from franchisees across the United States are enhancing the summertime pleasure. These promos differ by area, providing each community with something special. For example, Columbus, Ohio, offers a Double Cheeseburger with small fries for $3.50, while Memphis, Tennessee, offers a Buy One Get One for $1 breakfast sandwich deal. Customers in western New York can get a McChicken and McDouble combo for $3.99. Customers can take advantage of additional savings and diversity with these specialized offerings.

Discounts on soft drinks, iced coffees, and frozen beverages are also available. For instance, sodas cost just $1.79 in places like Cincinnati and Columbus. Wherever your summertime travels take you, these drink specials guarantee you’ll be able to stay cool and enjoy a delicious beverage.

Customers can begin accruing MyMcDonald’s Rewards points by downloading the McDonald’s app. Users can exchange 100 reward points for free menu items like a Happy Meal or a McChicken sandwich for every $1 spent.