C-store sales of both in-store items and fuels remained strong for the first three-quarters of the year, according to a survey of retailers released by the National Association of Convenience Stores last week.

Sixty-nine percent of c-store retailers say that in-store sales were higher than the same period in 2015. Only nine percent of retailers said that in-store sales were lower.

Strong c-store sales also pushed retailer optimism higher, with 73 percent saying they are optimistic about their business prospects in the fourth quarter, up from 68 percent last year.