In-N-Out Burger raised prices on some items at California locations shortly after the state initiated a minimum wage increase for fast food workers.
Since April 1, prices for a Double-Double burger, fries and a drink have increased by $0.25 to $0.50 depending on location, the burger chain confirmed.
“We have increased prices at California restaurants to supplement pay increases for Associates at those locations,” Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick said in a statement Thursday.
The Fast Act went into effect on April 1, offering fast food workers a starting wage of $20 an hour, up from the previous standard of $16. Since its passage, executives at chains like McDonald’s and Chipotle have said they would raise prices increase to compensate for wage increases.
Price increases reported in Los Angeles, San Francisco
The Double-Double combo now costs $11.44 in Los Angeles County, an increase of $0.76 from last year’s price, according to KTLA-TV.
Price increases have also been reported at locations in San Francisco and Daly City, Bay Area station KRON-TV reported.
The starting wage for In-N-Out workers in California is $22 to $23 an hour, Warnick said.
President of In-N-Out said prices would not increase “that much.”
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder previously vowed to protect prices at the West Coast’s favorite burger chain despite the new minimum wage law.
In an April interview, Snyder told NBC’s TODAY that the private company won’t see drastic price increases in California after the Fast Act passes.
“I sat in VP meetings and said, ‘We can’t raise prices that much, we can’t do that,’” Snyder said. “Because I felt such an obligation to take care of our customers.”
Fast food prices have increased by 4.8% since 2023
Fast food prices have risen 4.8% since last year and 47% since 2014, while overall inflation has risen 24%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A recent report from USA Today used survey information collected by a team of reporters in 18 markets across the country to compare prices over the past decade.
The study found that the price of an average medium-sized Big Mac meal has risen from $5.69 in 2014 to $9.72 in 2024, an increase of about 70%. The price of a medium Big Mac meal ranged in price from $7.89 in Houston to $15 in Seattle.
Contributions: Mary Walrath-Holdridge
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In-N-Out Burger confirms price hike in California after minimum wage law
