A MAGAZINE advertisement from nearly three decades ago has seemingly predicted the cost of a burger in 2024, among other price points. The unique page from 1996 was found in a magazine by an American who was left shocked by its accuracy. It showed a black-and-white photograph of a young woman in the background looking at the camera, with overlayed white text.
The text read, "They say in thirty years a burger & fries could cost $16," per a post from the owner of the magazine copy on Reddit. The advertisement was specifically from the Teacher's Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) and the College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF). This prediction proved fairly accurate, and many fast food chains have recently been called out for their price points .
Five Guys , for example, charges about $16 to $20 for a cheeseburger and regular fries depending on the state customers reside in. McDonald's also went viral recently for an $18 Big Mac combo that was spotted by one customer. In the past 10 years alone, McDonald's prices on some menu items have skyrocketed by 199%, according to a study from The Food Institute .
Residents who live in states with higher living costs like California or New York City would most likely say the $16 prediction meets what they frequently see for a burger and fries too. Inflation, especially considering food costs at restaurants or in grocery stores , has been steadily high since the coronavirus pandemic. Inflation in general has risen 22% from .
