McDonald's Nov sales up;strong dollar a concern

McDonald's Corp posted higher November sales at restaurants open at least 13 months, helped by an extra weekend, while the strengthening dollar pressured international sales, especially in Europe.

McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants have been boosted in recent months by cash-strapped consumers shifting down to their lower-priced fare during the recession.

The company has tried to keep a lid on costs and attracted customers with its popular Dollar Menu in the United States, while also introducing new items like premium coffee drinks and chicken biscuit breakfast sandwiches.

Same-store sales, a key gauge of retail health, were up 7.7 per cent overall and rose 4.5 per cent in the United States. Same-store sales rose 7.8 per cent in Europe and increased 13.2 per cent in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa division.