041140 McDonald's Same-Store Sales Rise 6.1%

New York, NY - McDonald's Corp. said that sales at its namesake hamburger restaurants open at least 13 months rose 6.1% in October, helped by a popular Monopoly game promotion in the United States.

The world's largest fast-food chain said same-store sales, a key measure of retail performance, rose 7.5% in the United States, its largest market.

Shares of McDonald's rose 39 cents, or 1.3%, to a new 52-week high of $30.45 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Same-store sales rose 2% in Europe, driven by an extra weekend compared to October 2003.

McDonald's said it was working on enhancing its perception in Germany, where the economic environment was still challenging.

Systemwide sales, or sales for all McDonald's restaurants, were up 9.5% in October, or 7% in constant currencies, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company said.

Privately held Burger King Corp., the No. 2 hamburger chain, said last week that its October comparable sales at U.S. restaurants rose 6.9%, helped by marketing and new product introductions.

Rival Wendy's International Inc. said last week that sales at its company-owned U.S. hamburger restaurants open at least 15 months fell 5.8% in October, hurt by stiff discounting from its competitors.

Same-store sales fell at Wendy's, the No. 3 hamburger chain, in a range of 5.1% to 5.4% at its U.S. franchise units in the period ended Oct. 31.

Wendy's sales have been pressured by a revitalized McDonald's, which has enjoyed success with entree-sized salads and white-meat chicken strips that had previously given Wendy's an edge in the U.S. fast-food war.

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