040901 McDonald's Sales Climb 3.9%September 8, 2004Chicago - McDonald's Corp. said worldwide sales at its namesake restaurants open at least 13 months rose 3.9% in August, helped by strong sales of new menu items like fried chicken strips. The world's largest fast-food chain said same-store sales, a key measure of retail performance, rose 7.2% in the United States, its largest market. Same-store sales fell 0.9% in Europe, the company's No. 2 market. The company cited a weak performance in Germany, poor weather and a decline in tourism for the drop off in European same-store sales. Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa same-store sales rose 0.9%. Total sales rose 8.6%, helped by the weaker dollar, which raises the dollar value of sales overseas. Sales in Europe rose 11%, but were up only 0.6% in local currencies.
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