McDonald's to slow Russia expansion due to fall in rouble

McDonald's Corp. (MCD.N) will open fewer new restaurants in Russia this year than last because a fall in the rouble has increased expansion costs and is hurting consumers, its Russian chief executive Khamzat Khasbulatov told Reuters. The rouble, hit by a drop in oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine, has fallen more than 50 percent since early 2014, fuelling inflation. Russia now faces its first recession since 2009. McDonald's will open at least 50 new restaurants in Russia compared to 73 last year, having earmarked 6 billion rubles ($87 million) for capital expenditures, the same amount as in 2014, Khasbulatov said in an interview.

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