Overview

• McDonald’s and U.S. franchisees agreed to price eight popular combos at 15% below the cost of buying items separately, according to company documents reported by the Wall Street Journal.
• The discounts begin in September and are expected to run into early 2026, with some operators instructed to keep lower prices through the start of next year, according to multiple reports.
• The chain will revive its Extra Value Meals branding and launch limited-time offers, including a $5 Sausage Egg McMuffin and $8 Big Mac meal in September, with $5 McGriddle and $8 10-piece McNuggets deals following in November.
• Corporate will subsidize participating franchisees and, together with operators, fund a marketing campaign to promote the lower-priced combos.
• Executives said menu board prices have hurt value perceptions, and the move targets budget-conscious diners after complaints about high-priced meals and uneven traffic, including viral examples of $18 Big Mac combos at certain locations.