McDonald's Sales Rise Despite Slowing US Traffic

McDonald's reported a mixed bag of results for its second-quarter 2026 sales. While total revenues rose 4% to $7.10 billion and systemwide sales grew 5% to around $37 billion, US comparable sales increased by just 0.8%. This growth was largely due to customers spending more per visit, rather than an increase in the number of visits.

The company attributed the positive check growth and favorable product mix to the rise in US comparable sales, but noted that it was partly offset by a decline in guest counts. McDonald's heavily franchised model means that much of its revenue comes from rent and royalties, which tend to track systemwide sales rather than restaurant-level profit.

The appointment of Skye Anderson as President of McDonald's USA may signal attention to the company's core US market, where traffic is declining. However, the release does not provide a specific plan or timetable for addressing this issue.