McDonald's posted a strong profit in its second quarter and named a new head of the U.S. market with sales at home under pressure as many Americans grow more cautious about spending.
McDonald’s said same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, edged up 0.8% in the U.S. That’s a sharp slowdown from the 2.5% increase a year ago, when the company had a big win with a meal tied to “A Minecraft Movie.” Global same-store sales rose 1.3%.
McDonald’s warned in May that high gas prices and consumer anxiety over the U.S. conflict with Iran could dent its sales. The U.S. average for regular gasoline reached its most recent peak on May 21 at $4.56 per gallon, according to AAA.
The Chicago burger chain earned $2.36 billion, or $3.32 per share, for the three months ended June 30. A year earlier it earned $2.25 billion, or $3.14 per share.
Excluding one time charges and benefits, earnings were $3.38 per share, beating the $3.32 per share analysts polled by FactSet expected.
Revenue climbed to $7.1 billion from $6.84 billion in the prior-year period, but came a bit short of Wall Street's estimate of $7.13 billion.
Rising costs have hit lower-income Americans the hardest, squeezing their discretionary spending.
McDonald's has jostled its menu and has sought to lure some of those customers to stores through value meals and other specials. In April, McDonald’s introduced a simplified McValue menu, which has 10 items that cost $3 or less.
Same-store sales growth in the U.S. was just about half of the growth recorded overseas and CEO Chris Kempczinski said the company will address it.
“While our playbook is working around the world, we see an opportunity to raise the bar in the U.S. and accelerate performance in our largest market,” Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a statement.
McDonald's announced Tuesday that Skye Anderson will be president of McDonald's USA.
Shares rose 1.6% before the opening bell.
AP reporter Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this report.
FILE - A McDonald's logo is seen at a restaurant in Warren, Mich., on Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Firefighters west of Athens raced to exploit a break in high winds on Tuesday, working to strengthen containment lines as forecasters warned that stronger gusts and rising temperatures would return in the coming days.
Several fires that burned through mountain communities and coastal areas west of the Greek capital were brought under control overnight. Planes and helicopters dumped water inside the contained perimeters through the morning, dousing hot spots while the winds stayed calm.
“There is a huge fire load in the area and the risk goes up as the day progresses,” said Costas Tsingas, head of the Greek Firefighters Association. “The goal is for the day to end better than it started.”
Burning for a fifth day, the blaze outside Athens prompted the evacuation of more than 1,000 people and was blamed on a faulty power line from a wind farm in the area.
Restrictions and park closures are imposed locally according to fire‑risk levels. Authorities say 33 people were arrested between June 29 and Aug. 2 for starting fires, including 30 through negligence and three on suspicion of arson. Most of the negligence cases involved farm work carried out despite local bans, including prohibited welding.
On Tuesday, crews were working against the clock: Winds typically pick up in the afternoon, a coastal phenomenon common across the Mediterranean in summer as land heats faster than the sea and draws in stronger breezes.
The army deployed tracked earth movers to carve fire breaks across the scorched hillsides, while specialist units pushed into forest areas on foot to extinguish smoldering embers before they could reignite.
More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from around the seaside resort of Porto Germeno and other areas west of the capital, including more than 250 rescued by boats from beaches in the area.
Prolonged heat waves across Europe this summer have left France tinder-dry, fueling blazes that this week exposed long-buried ammunition in a forested area.
The massive wildfire outside the southwestern city of Bordeaux, which has scorched about 420 square kilometers (162 square miles), uncovered what is believed to be World War II-era ammunition.
Demining experts have found more than 400 shells and other munitions in recent days at Le Porge, the hardest-hit town, where 183 homes were destroyed. Residents described hearing explosions believed to be blasts from the old shells, authorities said.
The fire remained contained and thousands of evacuees were allowed to return Monday. More than 224,000 people fled in France’s largest civilian evacuation outside wartime.
Corbet reported from Paris.
A house and a boat, destroyed by a wildfire, are seen in Porto Germeno, northwest of Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A house and a car destroyed by a wildfire are seen in Porto Germeno, northwest of Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Firefighters operate on Mount Kithairon near Porto Germeno, northwest of Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
