Fast Food Prices Have Been Rising Faster Than Inflation For Ten Years

 

It isn't entirely clear what is behind rising fast food prices. Fast food workers are getting paid better in many major cities, but some of the increase could also be demand driven. 

Many fast food places didn't have price increases in excess of inflation until the pandemic, and it could be that this was driven by substitution of sit down restaurant food which wasn't available for while, with take out food, which continued to be available.  It could also be due to rising profits, but in a competitive market, you can't just increase prices because you want to make higher profits.