In recent months Chipotle has found itself in the eye of a storm of customer discontent after the Tex-Mex fast food giant announced its latest round of price hikes. Across the internet, customers expressing anger over the fact news Chipotle will be raising their prices for the fourth time in two years—while the food and service is seemingly declining in quality.
One TikToker dedicated to sharing finance news, @stupidrichfinance, recently posted a video about these price impacts, igniting a flurry of reactions from customers frustrated with the continuous rise in fast food price tags. Find all the info below.
@stupidrichfinance #greenscreen Chipotle is Raising Prices Again #chipotle #fastfood #foodinflation #inflation #middleclasslife #middlechildproblems original sound – STUPID RICH
Chipotle raising prices for fourth time in two years
In a TikTok video, @stupidrichfinance expresses his frustration over rising prices. “Apparently Chipotle is raising its prices for the fourth time in two years. It could cost around an extra $1 per meal,” he said. He notes that for many people trying to save money, “mid-level food” like Applebee’s is already “out of the equation right now” due to the prices. “And with so many people looking to save money and go to a place like Chipotle instead of going out to dinner at one of these more expensive mid-level restaurants, seeing Chipotle raise prices again is pretty disheartening.”
He goes on to highlight the declining quality of service at his local Chipotle: “Here at my locations, they never have fajitas. Sometimes they don’t even have all the salsas. They’re slacking on their service. And now they’re still gonna charge more money. Just goes to show that everything’s getting more expensive, and it’s never going back to where it was.”
Backing up this sentiment, a post on the green screen behind him, from @saycheesetv on Instagram, echoes that Chipotle is indeed implementing its fourth price increase in two years, potentially adding an extra $1 to each meal.
News of Chipotle's price hike first surfaced in early October. In a statement to USA TODAY, the company's chief corporate affairs officer attributed the decision to inflation, stating, "For the first time in over a year, we will be taking a modest price increase to offset inflation." However, this marks the fourth increase since 2021, with previous hikes occurring in August 2022, June 2021, and the first quarter of 2022, the latter two linked to higher employee wages.
Customers react to Chipotle price hikes
@stupidrichfinance's TikTok video triggered a wave of reactions from customers, reflecting a general sentiment of dissatisfaction. One user commented, "I used to eat Chipotle every day, haven't had it in over a year now." Another fumed, "There is only one answer here, and it's GREED. These companies upcharge out the ass and still pay workers like shit. Corporate greed is out of control."
As one person noted: "Their price and level of service have an inverse relationship," highlighting the frustration many customers feel about paying more for what they perceive as declining service quality.
Another user chimed in, "I’d actually argue that fast food is becoming just as expensive as mid-level restaurants," highlighting a broader concern about the rising costs of fast food in comparison to other dining options.
Chipotle's price increases are not isolated incidents, as fast food prices across the industry have been rising due to inflation. The phenomenon of "shrinkflation," where products are reduced in size while maintaining the same price, has become increasingly common. In fact, there's a whole subreddit dedicated to the phenomenon, on which customers air their grievances.
Some Taco Bell customers are even calling for a boycott due to rising prices.
All in all, it's safe to say that inflation is impacting everything we spend our money on, and the fast food industry is one of the biggest culprits. But what do you think: Are your favorite meals worth a few extra dollars, or is it time to start cooking up your own taco bowls?
