Expenses on the Rise

Direct-store operating expenses increased 3.8 percent in 2013 compared to the prior year, outpacing the 2.5-percent rise in gross profits reported by convenience store retailers.

Although a negative trend, it was certainly not due to lack of effort on the part of c-store operators as evidenced by the fact that credit card fees rose just 1.3 percent and wages increased 3.4 percent, tantamount to what many consider to be cost-of-living adjustments.

The ?all other? expenses category, which includes costs associated with utilities, repairs and maintenance, supplies and facilities, rose a whopping 6.3 percent when comparing 2013 to 2012, which considerably outpaced the prior-year increase.

On a per-store basis, total direct-store operating expenses rose by $17,839 to $488,677 last year, which ate up more than 90 percent of c-store profits.