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 The world's biggest restaurant chain by revenue said worldwide sales
at restaurants open at least 13 months fell 0.3 percent last month.
That was below analysts' average estimate for a fall of 0.1 percent,
according to Consensus Metrix.
U.S. same-restaurant sales fell 1.4 percent, worse than the 0.6
percent decline that analysts had forecast.
McDonald's Chief Financial Officer Pete Bensen said in a press
release that the unchanged global comparable sales so far this year
"will pressure margins" in the first quarter.
McDonald's has reported nearly two years of turbulent sales at
established U.S. restaurants amid sluggish economic growth,
increased competition and internal missteps that have complicated
its menus and slowed service.
That performance is heaping pressure on Don Thompson, the chief
executive of McDonald's since July 2012, who will face new
challenges this year.
Beef prices are hovering near record highs and expected to keep
climbing. Labor costs also are increasing: several states have
raised their minimum wage this year.
Thompson said in a statement that McDonald's is "intent on improving
our business performance." McDonald's said it is trying to draw more
customers by improving customer service and menu changes.
McDonald's is doubling down on breakfast and coffee to defend its
No. 1 position in the United States as Starbucks Corp <SBUX.O>
debuts new breakfast sandwiches and Yum Brands' <YUM.N> Taco Bell
chain gets into the game with food like waffle tacos.
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McDonald's again blamed the intense cold and snow that hit large
parts of the country, but analysts have been quick to point out that
McDonald's less-affluent U.S. patrons are still getting pinched by
sluggish job growth and stagnant wages.
In Europe, the company's biggest market by revenue, restaurant sales
last month rose 0.6 percent. Sales were down 2.6 percent in the Asia
Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region.
Analysts looked for Europe to be down 0.1 percent and for APMEA to
drop 1.1 percent. Sales in Britain and France led the way in Europe,
while poor business in Japan weighed down sales in Asia.
McDonald's shares were down 0.4 percent Monday morning.
(Reporting by Phil Wahba in New York;
additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; editing by
Jeffrey Benkoe and Nick Zieminski)
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