McDonald's Sales Fall First Time in 9 Years

Down 1.8 percent in October

McDonald's Corp., the world's largest restaurant chain, said sales at stores open at least 13 months fell 1.8 percent in October, the first monthly decline in nine years, as U.S. customer traffic decreased.

Analysts projected a drop of 1.1 percent, the average of 14 estimates compiled by Consensus Metrix. Sales at U.S. locations slid 2.2 percent last month, Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald's said today in a statement. Analysts also estimated a decline of 1.1 percent for stores there.