McDonald's first quarter sales were lower than expected, highlighting an increase in consumer anxiety.

McDonald's first-quarter sales declined, reflecting deteriorating consumer confidence making it harder for the restaurant to attract diners. According to a report released on Thursday, sales at stores open for at least 13 months fell 1% compared to the same period last year globally, below the average expectations of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Excluding certain items, earnings per share roughly met expectations. McDonald's said same-store sales in the US dropped 3.6%, primarily due to a decrease in customer traffic. The UK market performed weakly, impacting the performance of one of the company's international segments.