Economic uncertainty and rising prices are causing consumers to cut back on non-essential spending, especially travel, leading Americans to opt for shorter, regional "micro-cations" instead of long-distance trips, reported research firm Placer.ai.

“As the U.S. economy enters the second half of 2025, evidence is mounting that consumers are pulling back on discretionary purchases. … Persistent macroeconomic uncertainty and the first real impacts of tariff-related price increases appear to be taking a toll on consumer confidence. With sentiment remaining fragile, households are becoming more selective, prioritizing essential spending while cutting back on discretionary purchases and travel,” it wrote.

“Our analysis confirms that the traditional summer vacation is being reshaped by this economic uncertainty. Using our new markets data, we’ve seen a decrease in the average miles traveled during the first half of 2025 for roughly two-thirds of the top 25 most populated markets in the U.S.,” Placer.ai wrote.

The research showed that convenience store visits in 2025 are generally below 2024 levels—on July 21, 2025 visits were down 4.2% from the same date in 2024. On July 14, 2025, visits were 5.9% lower year over year.

On the other hand, January 13, 2025, was one of the few dates in the positives, with 7.7% more weekly visits to c-stores year over year.

Interested in tips to navigate current and future economic trends? At the 2025 NACS Show in Chicago October 14-17, the education session “Economic Trends Shaping the Future of Retail,” will explore economic trends impacting the retail and convenience sectors, from inflation and consumer spending shifts to supply chain and technology.