April 30 (Reuters) - McDonald's fell short of

Wall Street estimates for first-quarter sales on Tuesday as

budget-conscious consumers cut back on restaurant meals and the

Middle East conflict weighed on the burger chain's international

sales.

Global comparable sales growth slid for the fourth straight

quarter to 1.9%, with the company saying consumers turned "more

discriminating with every dollar they spend". Analysts had

estimated a 2.35% rise, according to LSEG data.

The company has raised prices by roughly mid- to

high-single-digit percentage over the last year in response to a

rise in costs of eggs and other raw items.

Comparable sales in the company's International

Developmental Licensed Markets segment, which made up 10% of its

overall revenue in 2023, declined 0.2%, offsetting positive

trends from Japan, Latin America and Europe. Analysts had

expected a 0.98% rise for the unit.

Earlier in March, McDonald's CFO Ian Borden had warned of a

sequential fall in international sales in the first quarter,

pressured by the conflict in the Middle East and a sluggish

Chinese economy, its second-largest market after the United

States.

Higher competition for breakfast hour spending in the United

States has prompted the burger giant to lean on low-priced menu

choices including breakfast value bundles and a Dollar Menu

under the $4 price point.

First-quarter same-store sales grew 2.5% in the United

States, sharply lower than a 12.6% growth last year and slightly

below estimates of a 2.55% growth, signaling that cash-strapped

Americans remained picky about offers at fast-food chains amid

still-high inflation.

McDonald's posted quarterly adjusted per-share profit of

$2.70. Analysts had estimated $2.72, according to LSEG data.

Total operating costs and expenses increased 2% to $3.43

billion.

(Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb

Chakrabarty)