A focus on value — along with hot products like a “Minecraft”-themed meal — helped McDonald’s turn around its sagging sales in the second quarter.

McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski said Wednesday that the company’s McValue menu, which was introduced in January, is bringing some U.S. traffic back to its stores even as industrywide fast food visits have slowed. The menu lets customers buy one item for $1 when they buy a full-priced item, and it draws in different customers than McDonald’s $5 meal deal, Kempczinski said.

McDonald’s is also seeing a strong response to value meals in Europe and other regions, Kempczinski said.

But the company remains concerned about continuing declines in traffic from consumers with household incomes of $45,000 or less. Fast food visits by lower-

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