2/9/2010-McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) reported its same-store sales rose a better-than-anticipated 2.6% during the month of January, as the fast-food franchise's international sales outweighed its domestic store underperformance.

Sales at locations open for at least 13 months fell 0.7% in the US, however, in Europe and the Asia/Pacific, Middle East regions, same-store sales posted an outstanding 4.3% rise, the company said Tuesday.

Analysts, on average, were projecting the company's global same-store sales to rise 1.4% in January.

Earlier this month, McDonald's Chief Executive Jim Skinner warned that domestic comparable store sales were underperforming due to severe winter weather, and he expected US sales to be flat to slightly down.

For the larger part of the recession in the US, McDonald's benefited from low-cost seeking consumers, however, the "trade-down" effect has supposedly subsided.

In any case, McDonald's said Tuesday that its January figures were better than any of its fast-food competitors.

Shares of McDonald's are trading 0.6% higher to $63.32 Tuesday.

Contact Chip Brian

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