MCD ▼ -0.2% - McDonald's Corporation $MCD is using AI-powered pricing tools that estimate how much customers at each restaurant are willing to pay and recommend menu prices. That means the same item can be priced differently even at nearby locations. One example cited by Reuters showed a Big Mac priced at $5.69 at one Fresno location and $6.89 at another just two miles away, a 21% difference. McDonald’s says franchisees still set their own final prices, but the company tracks whether they follow the recommendations and sends updated pricing guidance several times a year. The company says the system is designed to help franchisees make more informed pricing decisions, not mandate prices. 30-SEP-2026 07:09 AM ET