McDonald's Global Comparable Sales Decrease 1.9% In January

McDonald's Corporation has announced that global comparable sales decreased 1.9% in January. Performance by segment was as follows: U.S. up 0.9%, Europe down 2.1%, Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) down 9.5%.

11 Feb 2013 --- "McDonald's is focused on satisfying the needs of each and every customer visiting our restaurants in search of great-tasting food and beverages, outstanding service and everyday value," said McDonald's President and Chief Executive Officer Don Thompson.  "While January's results reflect today's challenging environment and difficult prior year comparisons, I am confident that our unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional restaurant experience will enhance our brand's relevance and drive long-term results."

January comparable sales increased 0.9% in the U.S. driven by a balanced offering of premium, core and compelling value options, including the addition of the new Grilled Onion Cheddar burger to the Dollar Menu.  Results for the month also benefited from convenience and restaurant modernization strategies designed to provide customers with a better overall experience. 

In Europe, comparable sales decreased 2.1% as positive results in the U.K. and Russia were offset by performance in Germany, France and other markets.  Throughout Europe, McDonald's remains focused on appealing to a broad range of customer preferences with seasonal food events and enhanced value and breakfast offerings along with extended operating hours.

In APMEA, January's comparable sales decreased 9.5% due to ongoing weakness in Japan and negative results in China due primarily to the shift in timing of Chinese New Year and, to a lesser extent, the residual effects of consumer sensitivity around the recent supply chain issue in the chicken industry, which more than offset positive results in Australia. 

Systemwide sales for the month increased 0.3%, or 0.7% in constant currencies. For the month of February, comparable sales will be negatively impacted by approximately 3 percentage points as prior year results included one extra day due to leap year.