CAPITAL REGION, New York  – Convenience stores across the country might be soon seeing an unexpected – but welcomed – benefit to higher pump prices: an increase in grocery sales as consumers stock up on essentials while filling up their tanks.

Some NACS members are reporting higher grocery sales in recent weeks, Jeff Lenard, NACS spokesman, told the Daily Gazette. “People are looking to bundle shopping experiences when gas prices are going up. There is actually a tipping point, and we weren’t sure there was one,” he said.

Stewart’s Shop President Gary Dake said his company has had higher grocery sales in its more rural stores but sales at city stores remain steady. “In the Albany and Schenectady stores, there are far more supermarkets that are easy to get to…If you’re in Warrensburg or Indian Lake, you’re not going to make as many trips across as great a distance to a grocery store,” said Dake.

New York Association of Convenience Store President James Calvin said its members have not seen high gasoline prices translating into increases in inside store sales. Instead, record pump prices continue to damage small retailers.

“What’s been happening in the last six months is that because people are spending so much at the pumps they have less money to spend inside the stores,” said Calvin. “We don’t have any research to site here, but at least my impression is over the last six months, sales inside stores would seem to be flat or down because gas prices are draining consumers’ wallets.”