NEW YORK (AP) - Business at the Golden Arches is still going strong, even with consumers cutting back on dining out to save money in tough economic times.

McDonald's enjoyed an 8 percent gain in July same-store sales, largely because of breakfast items and the classic Big Mac sandwich.

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least 13 months, grew 6.7 percent in the U.S. Same-store sales are a key indicator of restaurant performance because the measure growth at existing locations rather than newly opened ones.

Total sales worldwide soared 15.9 percent.

The world's biggest hamburger chain attributes the strong domestic performance to its focus on breakfast, chicken and drink items. McDonald's rolled out a new chicken biscuit breakfast sandwich, a chicken sandwich for lunch and espresso-based coffee drinks in certain locations.

The fast-food chain says advertising for its Big Mac sandwich also boosted results in July.


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