McDonald’s January sales slip in U.S., strong overseas

Oak Brook, Ill. McDonald's Corp. on Tuesday posted a 2.6% increase in January same-store sales, topping some analysts’ estimates, as international sales overshadowed a sluggish performance in the United States.

Same-store sales in the United States fell 0.7%, while those in Europe, Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa rose 4.3%.

McDonald’s introduced a $1 breakfast menu last month in the United States and added a wrap version of its Big Mac sandwich to revive domestic sales hurt by the slowdown in consumer spending. In Europe, longer opening hours in the United Kingdom and France drove sales, while demand for breakfast and core menu staples such as french fries added to sales in Australia and Japan.

In a statement, CEO Jim Skinner said, "McDonald's continues to deliver great tasting, high quality food at an outstanding value to the growing number of customers we serve around the world every day. As we raise the bar on our menu, convenience and value offerings, I am confident that we will exceed our customers' expectations again in 2010."