McDonald's sales down but better than expected

It's reached the point where not-so-bad news is good news for McDonald's (MCD).

The fast-food giant said the decline of global sales at locations open at least 13 months slipped 0.5% in October.

That included at 1% drop in the U.S. market and 4.2% decline for units in the area that includes the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa.

At the same time, same-store sales in Europe fell 0.7% during the month of October, mostly due to softness in Russia, the company reported.

McDonald's stock closed up a penny – .01% – at $95.11 on Monday.

"Today's consumers increasingly prefer customizable food options, dining in a contemporary, inviting atmosphere and using more convenient ways to order and pay for their meals," said CEO Don Thompson in a statement.

That's why in the U.S. the chain says it is revamping its marketing, simplifying its menu and creating a new organizational structure.

In an effort to attract younger consumers demanding more choices and better quality food, McDonald's has recently expanded its "Create Your Taste" platform in parts of Southern California. It lets folks pick everything from the buns to the toppings to the proteins they want in their sandwiches by tapping on a touchscreen.

McDonald's has declined to state when – or if – that new platform will roll out nationally.