Salad days for McDonalds in US

McDonald's has reported lower comparable sales at its restaurants in April for a 14th month in a row but registered improvement in its US business, 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 groups 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 to 3.6 billion (€3bn), 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.