McDonald's Details Growth Plans

Oak Brooke, Ill. McDonald's Corp.'s growth plans this year call for $2 billion in capital spending, up slightly from last year's $1.9 billion, most of which will go overseas as it shaves U.S. investment, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

About half the capital expenditures in 2008 will support the opening of 1,000 or so new restaurants, with the rest financing efforts to improve the images of 1,600 locations, the report said.

McDonald's added 800 restaurants worldwide last year. Expansion plans call for at least 125 new units in China and between 35 and 40 restaurants in Russia.

McDonald's convenience push calls for opening more of its U.S. restaurants as early as 5 a.m., the report said.