{"surveyDate":"2026-07-13","runTimestamp":"2026-07-13T08:05:44.016Z","methodologyVersion":"3.1","instrument":{"model":"gpt-5.5-2026-04-23","promptHash":"6d76234e961c10d0","reasoningEffort":"xhigh"},"metros":[{"metro":"New York, NY","status":"verified","price":4.05,"reportedPrice":4.05,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/new-york/new-york","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"standard_menu","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; app-sourced, not delivery; within plausibility band."},{"metro":"Philadelphia, PA","status":"verified","price":2.98,"reportedPrice":2.98,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/pennsylvania/philadelphia","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Atlanta, GA","status":"verified","price":2.65,"reportedPrice":2.65,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/georgia/atlanta","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Miami, FL","status":"verified","price":2.83,"reportedPrice":2.83,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/florida/miami","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Dallas, TX","status":"verified","price":2.1,"reportedPrice":2.1,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/texas/dallas","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Chicago, IL","status":"verified","price":2.87,"reportedPrice":2.87,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/illinois/chicago","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Kansas City, MO","status":"verified","price":2.29,"reportedPrice":2.29,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/missouri/kansas-city","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Columbus, OH","status":"verified","price":2.48,"reportedPrice":2.48,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/ohio/columbus","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Los Angeles, CA","status":"verified","price":3.56,"reportedPrice":3.56,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/california/los-angeles","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"standard_menu","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; above Under-$3 positioning in this market but within plausibility band."},{"metro":"Seattle, WA","status":"verified","price":4.28,"reportedPrice":4.28,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/washington/seattle","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"standard_menu","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; high but within plausibility band, not delivery."},{"metro":"Denver, CO","status":"verified","price":2.6,"reportedPrice":2.6,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/colorado/denver","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; treated as everyday Under-$3/McValue pricing, not coupon or bundle."},{"metro":"Phoenix, AZ","status":"verified","price":3.04,"reportedPrice":3.04,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/arizona/phoenix","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"standard_menu","pageUpdated":"July 2026","asOf":"2026-07-13","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"Pinned city-average standalone McChicken price; slightly above Under-$3 threshold but within plausibility band."}],"spec":{"reading":{"grams":139.46,"nutrientMedianGrams":139.48,"crossCheckDeltaGrams":0.02,"components":[{"name":"McChicken Patty","grams":61.06},{"name":"Regular Bun","grams":50.71},{"name":"Shredded Lettuce","grams":14.2},{"name":"Mayonnaise","grams":13.49}],"calories":390,"protein":14,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-13T08:01:43.225Z"},"status":"verified","appliedGrams":139.46,"rawExcerpt":{"item_name":"McChicken","components":[{"product_name":"McChicken Patty","quantity":"0.6106"},{"product_name":"Regular Bun","quantity":"0.5071"},{"product_name":"Shredded Lettuce","quantity":"0.142"},{"product_name":"Mayonnaise","quantity":"0.13488703"}],"nutrient_facts":[{"name":"Calories","value":"390","hundred_g_per_product":"279.7","uom":" Cal."},{"name":"Protein","value":"14","hundred_g_per_product":"10","uom":"g"},{"name":"Carbohydrates","value":"38","hundred_g_per_product":"27.2","uom":"g"},{"name":"Total Fat","value":"21","hundred_g_per_product":"15.1","uom":"g"},{"name":"Sodium","value":"560","hundred_g_per_product":"401.6","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Saturated Fat","value":"3.5","hundred_g_per_product":"2.5","uom":"g"},{"name":"Trans Fat","value":"0","hundred_g_per_product":"0","uom":"g"},{"name":"Cholesterol","value":"40","hundred_g_per_product":"28.7","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Dietary Fiber","value":"1","hundred_g_per_product":"0.7","uom":"g"},{"name":"Total Sugars","value":"4","hundred_g_per_product":"2.9","uom":"g"},{"name":"Added Sugars","value":"4","hundred_g_per_product":"2.9","uom":"g"},{"name":"Vitamin D","value":"0","hundred_g_per_product":"0","uom":"mcg"},{"name":"Calcium","value":"20","hundred_g_per_product":"14.3","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Iron","value":"2","hundred_g_per_product":"1.4","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Potassium","value":"310","hundred_g_per_product":"222.3","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Vitamin B6","value":"0","hundred_g_per_product":"0","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Phosphorus","value":"0","hundred_g_per_product":"0","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Caffeine","value":"0","hundred_g_per_product":"0","uom":"mg"},{"name":"Calories From Fat","value":"190","hundred_g_per_product":"136.2","uom":" Cal."},{"name":"Energy kJ","value":"1640","hundred_g_per_product":"1176","uom":"kJ"},{"name":"Dietary Fiber 2015","value":"1","hundred_g_per_product":"0.7","uom":"g"}]}},"wage":{"usdPerHour":32.38,"month":"2026-06","fetchedAt":"2026-07-13T08:01:43.391Z","source":"FRED AHETPI (api)"},"nationalEstimates":[{"estimate":2.86,"source_url":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds-menu/mcchicken","as_of":"2026-07-03","description":"MenuPriceTracker McChicken national average; range $1.00-$5.79 across tracked U.S. cities and locations."},{"estimate":2.86,"source_url":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds-menu","as_of":"2026-07-06","description":"MenuPriceTracker all-items national McDonald's menu page; McChicken national average."}],"regimeEvents":[{"date":"2026-07-09","event":"Anecdotal U.S. Reddit wave: multiple users reported local McChicken menu prices falling to about $2.00, $1.50, or $1.49; unconfirmed local pricing signal, flagged for review and not applied to index.","source_url":"https://www.reddit.com/r/McDonalds/comments/1urtk1j/mcchicken_sandwiches_lowered_to_2_at_several_of/"},{"date":"2026-07-09","event":"Anecdotal U.S. employee report: one store reported a 50% McChicken price cut; unconfirmed local/store-level regime signal, flagged for review and not applied to index.","source_url":"https://www.reddit.com/r/McDonaldsEmployees/comments/1us3gne/usa_mcchicken_situation_is_crazy/"}],"qualityNotes":"All 12 panel prices were pulled from the pinned MenuPriceTracker metro pages on 2026-07-13; those pages show July 2026 app-sourced city averages, so freshness is monthly rather than same-day register verification. McDonald's current McChicken/McValue pages identify McChicken as an Under-$3 menu item with price and participation variation; observations were classified as value_menu_listed only where the pinned metro price was at or below $3. Hardest metros were New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Phoenix because their city averages exceed the national Under-$3 positioning; no delivery platforms or banned content farms were used.","outcome":{"status":"published","mciMinutes":5.3,"panelPriceUsd":2.85},"usage":{"inputTokens":98942,"outputTokens":11306}}