Cost-of-living squeeze drives American customers away from McDonald's, and US sales slip for the first time in six quarters

McDonald's US same-store sales fell 0.2% in the July–September quarter — the first domestic decline since early 2025 — as foot traffic dropped and customers cut back amid higher gas prices. CEO Chris Kempczinski warned investors last month that "the pressure around cost of living isn't going away." The chain restored in-app deals and shifted marketing toward value offers, which pulled September back into positive territory.

The drop was milder than feared: Wall Street had braced for a 0.5% fall, and net income still rose 9% to $2.49 billion.