{"surveyDate":"2026-08-03","runTimestamp":"2026-08-03T08:05:40.932Z","methodologyVersion":"3.1","instrument":{"model":"gpt-5.5-2026-04-23","promptHash":"bc8a013a1d67d581","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":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 29 locations; above $3 despite McValue framing; 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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 28 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 18 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 35 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 34 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 49 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 19 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 26 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"metro":"Los Angeles, CA","status":"verified","price":3.56,"reportedPrice":3.56,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/california/los-angeles","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 40 locations; above $3 despite McValue framing; 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":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 15 locations; high but within plausibility band."},{"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":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 18 locations; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."},{"metro":"Phoenix, AZ","status":"verified","price":3.04,"reportedPrice":3.04,"sourceUrl":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds/arizona/phoenix","sourceType":"pinned_aggregator","priceType":"value_menu_listed","pageUpdated":"August 2026","asOf":"2026-08-03","carriedFromDate":null,"citationCheck":{"fetched":true,"priceFound":true,"httpStatus":200,"error":null},"notes":"City-wide app-sourced standalone McChicken average across 38 locations; slightly above $3; no meal, bundle, or coupon used."}],"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":"2026-08-03T08:01:39.333Z"},"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":"2026-08-03T08:01:43.514Z","source":"FRED AHETPI (api)"},"nationalEstimates":[{"estimate":2.86,"source_url":"https://menupricetracker.com/mcdonalds-menu/mcchicken","as_of":"2026-07-27","description":"MenuPriceTracker national average standalone McChicken price, based on app-sourced store-level data across 13,575 U.S. locations; displayed range $1.00-$5.79."}],"regimeEvents":[{"date":"2026-07-21","event":"McDonald's official Menu Spotter launched Caesar Sauce nationally for a limited time on chicken items and noted McCrispy Strips now use panko-coating breading; this is not a McChicken reformulation and was not used in prices.","source_url":"https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/USmenuspotter.htm.html"},{"date":"2026-07-22","event":"Limited McValue Pack promo/giveaway in Boston, Chicago, and Seattle included a McChicken, McDouble, and 4-piece McNuggets; online $2.99 drop followed on July 24. Flagged as promo/bundle only; not used in observations.","source_url":"https://sporked.com/article/you-can-get-this-mcdonalds-mcvalue-deal-for-only-one-day/"},{"date":"2026-07-27","event":"Anecdotal Reddit thread reported McChicken app regular-price variability at the same location, with commenters disputing dynamic pricing versus app/location glitch. Flagged for review; not used in observations.","source_url":"https://www.reddit.com/r/McDonalds/comments/1v7pb8u/dynamic_pricing_or_glitch/"}],"qualityNotes":"All 12 metro observations used the pinned MenuPriceTracker primary pages, which state app-sourced prices updated August 2026; fetch/as-of date is 2026-08-03. The figures are city-wide averages rather than a single counter receipt, so individual stores, airports, and non-participating franchises can differ. No delivery platforms or banned content farms were used; the hardest metros were Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles because their averages sit above the national McValue Under $3 framing while remaining plausible.","outcome":{"status":"published","mciMinutes":5.3,"panelPriceUsd":2.85},"usage":{"inputTokens":115357,"outputTokens":12379}}