McDonald's lifts the price of Big Mac, Quarter Pounder and McChicken meals

IF you are flipping mad over higher power bills, now blame them in part for costlier burgers. Fast food goliath McDonald's has lifted the price of Big Mac, Quarter Pounder and McChicken meals because of bigger costs, including soaring utilities charges. The food giant has advised hundreds of outlets nationwide to charge 10c-30c extra for the products. The recommended price of popular coffees, including cappuccinos, flat whites and lattes, also rose 10-20c a cup because of higher coffee bean costs. "Like all businesses we do, from time to time, have to review our prices in light of increasing cost pressures such as food and packaging, labour, utilities, insurance and electricity costs," McDonald's spokeswoman Skye Oxenham said. The price rises, recommended from last month, averaged just over 1 per cent, Ms Oxenham said. "Currently, our price index is below the national CPI, as we're always conscious of offering our customers great value for money." Six McValue lunch meals had been reduced offering savings of up to $3 on standard prices. Ms Oxenham said most restaurants were franchises, so it was ultimately up to individual operators to decide prices.