NEW YORK – McDonald's said a key sales figure climbed 3.7 percent in August, as the fast-food chain emphasized the value of its menu offerings amid the challenging global economy.

The world's biggest hamburger chain's strongest performance came from the region encompassing Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with revenue at stores open at least 13 months up 5.7 percent.

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based company said Tuesday that strong results in Australia and China fueled the performance, along with a shift in the timing of Ramadan.