McDonald's monthly sales rise; stock near 4 1/2-year high

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp.'s latest Monopoly game promotion helped maintain momentum at the fast-food chain last month, contributing to a 3 percent sales increase at U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months.

McDonald's said Tuesday that same-store sales also posted modest rises elsewhere in October -- up 3.3 percent in Europe, due mainly to strong results in France and Germany, and 4.3 percent in the area comprising the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa.

The worldwide increase of 3.4 percent in same-store sales, a key barometer of retail performance, marked the 30th straight monthly increase since McDonald's snapped out of a rare slump in the spring of 2003.

CEO Jim Skinner attributed the growth in U.S. sales to prices, menu variety, extended hours and the popularity of its Best Chance Monopoly game promotion.

, which ran from Oct. 4-31 in a third straight year of partnership with the consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co. Inc.

The company said those factors helped offset the loss of sales from temporary closures due to hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and Florida.

McDonald's shares rose 30 cents to close at $34 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, just shy of the 4 1/2-year closing high of $34.20 it reached in September. The stock is up 12 percent from a year ago.