McDonald's says a key sales figure dropped again in April on the heels of a bird flu scare in China.
The fast-food giant's global comps slid by 0.6% during the month, led by a 2.9% fall in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region. McDonald's attributed this to the latest crisis with Avian flu and "softer results" in Japan and Australia.
Europe was better but not by much, recording a 2.4% decline. Encouraging performance in the U.K. and Russia was tempered by sluggishness in other nations such as France and Germany.
Sales at restaurants open at least 13 months is a key metric because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations.
CEO Don Thompson has said that the company will focus on emphasizing value to capture market share in the tough environment. Analysts have raised concerns that the strategy could eat into profit margins. But McDonald's executives say that short-term sacrifice is necessary to build customer loyalty and ensure the long-term health of the company.
McDonald's fell 1.3 percent to $100.95 at the close of the New York Stock Exchange. The shares have advanced 14 percent this year through yesterday, matching the gain for the Standard & Poor's 500 Restaurants Index.
