Summer Drive Predicted To Be Near âNormalâ Levels Convenience retailers anticipate the return of summertime travel and customer trips. April 05, 2021 ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Convenience retailers anticipate that leisure travel and routine customer trips will return to pre-pandemic levels this summer, according to the results of a new survey of U.S. convenience store owners by NACS Research. Convenience stores, which sell 80% of the fuel purchased in the country, experienced a 13% decrease in fuel sales and less customer traffic throughout the pandemic. However, most (52%) say that summer travel and commuting patterns will be close to pre-pandemic levels. However, this is not shared optimism: 28% don’t expect to see traditional travel patterns emerge until 2022.