Global McSlump continues but salads help out

McDonald’s Corporation reported lower comparable sales at its worldwide restaurants in April for a 14th month in a row today but registered improvement in its US business for the first time in over a year, helped by its new salads.

McDonald’s same-store sales – those at restaurants open at least 13 months - declined 0.8% overall in April from the same month a year earlier.

European sales at established restaurants were down 2.3% from April 2002, and the Asia Pacific, Middle East and African markets were down a combined 6.9%.

But results from existing restaurants in the United States, the fast-food giant’s largest market, were up 1.3% for their first positive comparison since February 2002.

The company cited benefits from the debut on April 21 of its meal-sized salads, which were backed by a big US advertising campaign.

Total systemwide sales increased 8% over a year earlier a gain McDonald’s said was largely due to favourable currency comparisons between the dollar and the euro and the pound.

Chairman and CEO Jim Cantalupo, who has said it will take a year or more to get the slumping company back on a path to solid growth, said he was encouraged by the improvements shown in April sales.

McDonald’s shares fell 11 cents to $18.18 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange