CStore Decisions explores the trends, challenges and consumer behaviors shaping the core c-store categories and their subsegments.
As 2025 unfolds, convenience stores continue to adapt to shifting consumer behaviors, economic pressures and emerging industry innovations.
Inflation remains high, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 2.89% over the 12 months ending in December 2024 — up from 2.6% in October and 2.75% in November. While this is a significant improvement from the 8% and 9% inflation rates seen in 2022, consumers are still feeling the squeeze as already high prices continue to climb.
C-store retailers are feeling the effects of inflation on the performance of a number of key categories as customers increasingly seek out value and change spending patterns in the face of continued sticker shock. While value often translates to lower prices, it can also mean higher quality or even premium items that justify a higher spend. Euromonitor International’s “Top Global Consumer Trends 2025,” listed “Wiser Wallets” as a key trend in 2025, noting that added value is a consumer expectation across the globe in 2025 amid rising costs.
However, even as costs continued to climb, economic sentiment remained strong heading into last month. At press time, the CivicScience Economic Sentiment Index rolled in at 39.4 for the week of Jan. 28, 2025, down from a 12- month high of 41.4 on Nov. 5, but up from a 12-month low of 32.6 on May 21.
C-store retailers are leveraging loyalty programs and promotions to help appeal to cash-strapped shoppers. As they look to cut costs, customers — especially younger consumers — are less committed to specific brands. Taking advantage of this trend, more c-stores are adding private-label lines. They’re also driving excitement through limited-time offers from the foodservice menu to the snack aisle. A recent CivicScience survey found Americans are mixed on President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs against China, Mexico and Canada. At press time the proposed tariffs against Mexico and Canada were on hold for at least a month, but tariffs on China (of which 46% of respondents to a CivicScience poll supported) were still on the table. If the tariffs bring higher prices, two in five respondents said they’d buy a different brand, while 17% said they’d stop purchasing the impacted product. Some 76% of Americans polled by CivicScience plan to cut back on at least one area if tariffs start to hurt their wallets, with fast food (50%) topping the list. Travel (39%), gasoline (19%) and grocery stores (27%) were among the other categories mentioned.
