McDonald’s just reported a 3.6% drop in U.S. same-store sales—the chain’s worst quarterly decline since the pandemic hit in 2020. The fast food giant says lower-income and now even middle-income customers are visiting less, skipping meals like breakfast to save money.
CEO Chris Kempczinski said “consumers today are grappling with uncertainty,” noting guest counts are down across key demographics. The chain also missed revenue forecasts for the third time in four quarters.
Executives cited economic strain, inflation, and rising anti-American sentiment abroad—especially in Europe and Canada—due in part to Trump’s tariff policies.
Despite the decline, McDonald’s is sticking to its 2025 outlook and plans to open 2,200 new stores, banking on new value deals and promotions like its upcoming Minecraft movie tie-in to turn things around.
