McDonald's Corp., the world's largest restaurant company, posted October sales that beat some analysts' estimates after U.S. consumers, pinched by rising food bills and unemployment, bought double cheeseburgers and other $1 items.
Global sales at restaurants open at least 13 months climbed 8.2%, paced by Europe's gain of 9.8% compared with a year earlier. U.S. same-store sales increased 5.3%, the Oak Brook, Ill., company said.
The Oct. 7 return of a Monopoly game promotion offering cash and gift cards helped U.S. sales.