McDonald's sees unexpected drop in customers amid economic uncertainty
FILE-Photo of a McDonald's restaurant. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
McDonald’s experienced a decline in customer traffic during the first quarter of the year amid uncertainty about the economy.
McDonald’s restaurants’ sales dip
By the numbers:
McDonald’s same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, fell 1% globally in the January-March period. Without the impact of the extra leap year day in 2024, same-store sales were flat, the company told the Associated Press.
RELATED: McDonald's teases Snack Wrap return date: What to know
According to the Associated Press, same-store sales in the U.S. fell 3.6%., representing the biggest U.S. decline McDonald's has seen since 2020 during COVID-19. Meanwhile, shares of McDonald's Corp. fell just over 1% before the opening bell on Thursday.
McDonald’s appealing to consumers with deals
Why you should care:
McDonald’s expanded its value menu at U.S. restaurants, which allows customers to buy one item for $1 when they buy a full-priced item. It’s also offering its $5 Meal Deal through the summer. That deal was introduced last June and extended several times.
Dig deeper:
McDonald’s, which has 14,000 locations in the U.S., has teased the return of the snack wrap, while bringing back other menu items to create excitement for patrons, including the McRib sandwich, which returned to restaurant menus in December.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press, which received comments from McDonald’s and data for store sales. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.