The Big Mac Index turns forty, and here’s the beef: It’s still relevant.

The Economist's Big Mac Index, which compares burger prices across countries as an informal measure of purchasing power parity, marks its 40th year of publication in 2026. The index tracks Big Mac prices in dozens of countries to assess whether currencies are overvalued or undervalued relative to the U.S. dollar. According to the index data, Big Mac prices are generally lower in Asian countries than in the United States.

Next story