McDonald's comparable sales up 5.1 percent

McDonald's Corp posted a 5.1 percent increase in July sales at established restaurants on Monday, helped by smoothies and other drinks in the United States and growth in its breakfast business in Europe. The world's largest hamburger chain said sales at restaurants open for at least 13 months rose 4.4 percent in the United States, 5.3 percent in Europe and 4.0 percent in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
The global comparable sales increase was just above the 4 percent to 5 percent rise that McDonald's had forecast on July 22, when it posted a second-quarter profit that beat analysts' expectations. McDonald's relatively low prices have helped attract customers in both the United States and Europe as the economy remains weak in those regions.