McDonald's Corp reported a 3.1 percent rise in May sales at established restaurants, but in the United States, the gains were more modest than expected and its shares fell 1.7 percent in premarket trading.

The world's biggest hamburger chain on Wednesday said sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose 2.4 percent in the United States.

Same-restaurant sales were up 2.3 percent in Europe and 4.3 percent in its Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) unit.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting May same-restaurant sales to rise 2.8 percent in the United States, 4.2 percent in Europe and 3.4 percent in APMEA, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Shares fell $1.39 in premarket trading from a close on Tuesday of $81.14.

(Reporting by Phil Wahba, additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

(This story is corrected in the headline to include words same-store)