McDonald's says a key sales figure edged up modestly in July, as an increase in the US helped offset declines in other parts of the world.
The world's biggest hamburger chain says global sales rose 0.7 per cent at restaurants open at least 13 months. That included a 1.6 per cent increase in the US, where it said breakfast and staples such as the Big Mac drove up results. McDonald's stock was up 1 per cent at USD 99.47 in premarket trading.
The sales figure fell 1.9 per cent in both Europe and the region encompassing Asia, the Middle East and Africa. CEO Don Thompson has said the company is working on adjusting to local conditions, whether it's by emphasizing deals more or extending the hours of operation.
With people being careful about their spending, McDonald's has aggressively promoted its Dollar Menu and other deals to attract customers. Analysts have expressed concern the strategy could eat into profit margins, but executives say the sacrifice is necessary to hold onto customers and grow over the long term.
McDonald's Corp had warned last month that it expected sales to be relatively flat in July and that the rest of the year would be challenging. The company has been struggling to drive up sales, citing growing competition and weak economic conditions around the world.
It's also trying to adapt to changing eating habits. It recently introduced a chicken wrap for people who want fresher foods.
