Consumer Behavior

Consumers are loyalty stacking at fuel pumps more than ever

Adobe Stock

September 25, 2026

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Consumers, in response to inflation and increasing gas prices, are 'loyalty stacking' when it comes to paying for fuel at the pump.

The combining of more than one loyalty or discount practice increased from 0.43% of fill-ups in late May to 0.53% in the last weeks of the summer — a 23% increase, according to Verifone payment data analyzing more than 590 million fuel purchase through the summer.

Drivers saved a total of $82.8 million using loyalty and rewards programs at the pump, according to a press release on the data analysis.

The news comes as gas prices climbed to $4.32 a gallon, up from $3.20 a year ago, and diesel hit an all-time high of $6.26 a gallon.

"Consumers are telling us exactly how they're coping with gas prices at four-year highs — stack every discount and loyalty reward available and buy in bulk when they do," James Hervey, EVP of petroleum and convenience at Verifone, said in the release. "A new season-high stacking rate heading into fall travel tells us this isn't a holiday-weekend habit anymore — it is becoming how Americans buy gas."

Verifone's petroleum transaction data comes from more than 40,000 convenience stores and fuel retail locations across the United States using Verifone payment terminals.