Sales At McDonald's Stay Golden

McDonald's Corp. said Monday that its same-store sales climbed 5.1 percent in May, as the nation's largest hamburger chain continued to prosper from budget-conscious consumers amid the recession.

The company said U.S. same-store sales climbed 2.8 percent, helped by classic menu items and its new McCafe espresso-based coffees.

European same-store sales surged 7.6 percent on strong results from France, Germany, Russia and the U.K.

Same-store sales for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa rose 6.4 percent, mainly due to strength in Australia.

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, are a key indicator of retailer performance because they measure growth at existing stores rather than newly opened ones.