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How many menu price increases is too many?How many menu price increases is too many?

Data reveals the point at which consumers tend to drop off

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

October 6, 2022

 

Welcome to First Bite, a Nation’s Restaurant News podcast, your daily source of news from NRN.

Today, we’re talking about raising menu prices.

With continued supply chain issues and inflationary pressures mounting, it’s no wonder that most restaurants raised their prices this year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, food away from home prices increased 8% from Aug. 2021 to Aug. 2022.

But where can you find the biggest price increases? According to research published by personal finance technology company, MoneyGeek, San Francisco has edged out Los Angeles and New York City to be named the most expensive city for a burger, fries and a soda, with the average meal at major chains costing $15.30 in San Francisco, $14.59 in Los Angeles, and $14.22 in New York City.

And while it is true that nearly every restaurant chain raised its prices at least once over the past year, some did so more than others.  

For more on the subject, we talk to senior editor Joanna Fantozzi.

Plus, catch up on all the top news of the day with our daily news recap at the beginning of each episode.

Be sure to subscribe to First Bite wherever you get your podcasts or on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

  • Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

  • Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

  • Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

  • Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

  • Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

  • Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

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