CEO Chris Kempczinski attributed the decline to franchisees not following the company’s pricing recommendations, linking weaker customer visits to higher menu prices.
McDonald's said U.S. customer traffic declined after price increases, with CEO Chris Kempczinski saying the weakness stemmed from franchisees not adhering to the company’s recommended pricing. The comment points to a familiar tension in franchised restaurant systems, where corporate guidance can diverge from pricing decisions made at the store level, potentially affecting demand as consumers push back against higher costs.