A week after installing a new chief executive, McDonald’s announced on Monday that sales continued to fall in February.

The company said its sales in stores open at least a year fell by a startling 4 percent in the United States and by 1.7 percent globally.

“Consumer needs and preferences have changed, and McDonald’s current performance reflects the urgent need to evolve with today’s consumers, reset strategic priorities and restore business momentum,” the company said in a statement.

Image A McDonald's sign in a scrap metal yard in Phoenix. The company said sales in stores open at least a year fell by 4 percent in the United States last month. Credit... Brian Snyder/Reuters

Same-store sales have declined more than Wall Street predicted for more than a year in the United States, the company’s largest market, and it blamed “aggressive competitive activity” for the latest sharp shortfall.