Global burger giant McDonald’s has continued its recent sales slump with an 0.6 percent decline in global sales for the month of April, compared with the same period a year earlier.

The result follows a first quarter result reported on Beef Central recently, where comparable sales fell 1pc for January-March period. See Beef Central's earlier report, "GFC impacts on McDonald's first quarter."

Up until recent times, McDonald’s, as a keenly priced food service meal option, has withstood much of the downward trend in sales being seen more broadly across the food service sector, as a result of the Global Financial Crisis.  

Worst hit during April was the company’s Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa division (including Australia), where comparable sales were down 2.9pc.

European operations weren’t far behind, however, falling 2.4pc compared with April last year, while North America fared much better, producing an 0.7pc improvement in sales.

Positive performance in the UK and Russia was more than offset by declines in Germany, France and other markets in the company’s European operations.

The Asia/Pacific/Africa region was impacted by Avian influenza, primarily in China, and softer results in Japan and Australia.

In what he described as a "persistently challenging macro-environment,” McDonald's chief executive Don Thompson told the market that the company was focused on “becoming our customers' favourite place and way to eat and drink by leveraging the strength of our menu variety, unsurpassed value and convenience, and by emphasising outstanding customer service.”

• McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with 34,000 locations serving more than 69 million customers in 119 countries each day. Australia is a dominant supplier of manufacturing meat into the company’s Asia-Pacific and North American operations.