OAK BROOK Ill. McDonald’s dodged the sales slowdown that stung many restaurant chains during October, with the chain citing value as a key reason for its 5.3-percent year-over-year increase in domestic same-store sales.
Global comparable-store sales jumped 8.2 percent for the month, according to franchisor McDonald’s Corp.
The company said domestic results for the month were also helped by breakfast, new chicken sandwiches, the return of the chain’s Monopoly sweepstakes game, and extended drive-thru hours.
Officials cited “locally relevant menu choices, branded affordability and extended hours” for the jump in comparable sales overseas. The chain's European locations posted a 9.8-percent jump in same-store sales, while the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa division notched an 11.5-percent increase for the month. Countries that showed especially strong sales results were Australia, the United Kingdom, France and Russia, the company said.
"McDonald's strong October sales show that we are delivering what customers count on from McDonald's -- choice, variety and high-quality food and beverages at affordable prices," chief executive Jim Skinner said in a statement.
McDonald’s, which has 31,000 locations in more than 100 countries, said it expected to release November sales results on Dec. 8.