Third-quarter profits at McDonald’s fall 35% as sales slow in US outlets

McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant chain by sales, said third-quarter profit fell 3.5% as sales growth slowed at US stores.

Net income dropped to $1.46bn (€1.12bn), or $1.43 a share, from $1.51bn, or $1.45, a year earlier, the Illinois-based company said yesterday in a statement.

Foreign-currency exchange-rate fluctuations reduced net income by 8c a share in the third quarter. Analysts projected $1.47, the average of 26 estimates.