On Jan. 16 it was discovered that McDonald’s Japan raised the price of its iconic hamburger from ¥100 to ¥120 at 145 outlets in and around Kyushu. Amid a prolonged slump, the burger chain is offering some of its products at higher prices on a trial basis to determine the impact on sales. The trial period and plans for expansion to other stores remain undecided. The price increases took effect at all stores in Fukuoka and Saga and some stores in Yamaguchi, Kumamoto and Oita on Jan. 11. Aside from the hamburger, prices for a small McShake and Juicy Shaka Shaka Chicken both rose from ¥100 to 120, and a cheeseburger now costs ¥150 instead of ¥120. Meanwhile, McDonald’s reduced the price of a small French fries from ¥210 to ¥150 and left the prices of its Value Meals untouched. The company had been using the pricing power of its ¥100 menu items to drive sales, but due to the reduced use of promotional discounts, same-store sales in Dec. 2012 fell 8.6% year-on-year, making it the ninth straight month that sales lagged behind last year’s figures. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun
