McDonald's February sales down 1.5 percent, better than expected

McDonald's Corp said on Friday that February sales at established its hamburger restaurants around the world fell 1.5 percent amid stiff competition for customers who are spending more cautiously due to weak economic growth and higher taxes.

Analysts polled by Consensus Metrix had expected a 1.63 percent decline in global sales at restaurants open at least 13 months.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)