This week, we learned from Placer.ai that due to high gas prices, foot traffic at the nation’s gas stations fell sharply in May. There was an exception, though: wholesale clubs. In other news, AliExpress is holding its annual summer sale with steep discounts and some marketing twists. Meanwhile, Juspay has joined a Mastercard platform that makes it easier for companies to tap payment services.
AliExpress Summer Sale
AliExpress is going big this year with its annual summer sale promotion. It includes livestreaming and other various activations as well as giveaways on Reddit. But, of course, the spotlight is on deep discounts and a focus on the marketplace’s Brand+ channel where shoppers can find trusted, global brands (with official product authentication).
Related Stories
The sale runs through June 10 with deals of up to 80 percent off.
AliExpress said in a statement that as value-conscious shoppers prioritize quality, practicality and price, the sale highlights products aligned with the season, such as travel, outdoor recreation, gaming, wellness, auto and home organization. The marketplace is offering a tiered savings structure that runs from $3 off a $15 spend to increments reaching $100 off on a cart of $650.
“Summer is a peak season for discovery, whether shoppers are gearing up for outdoor adventures or refreshing their home setups,” said Chris Gu, U.S. country manager at AliExpress. “With Brand+, we’re making it easier to find official products from recognized global brands, while our new creator-led livestreams offer a dynamic way to see these products in action. We’re combining competitive pricing with a more interactive, curated shopping experience.”
AliExpress said that in addition to the Reddit giveaway, the Brand+ curated selection includes a new wave of interactive shopping. AliExpress is collaborating with creators and livestreamers to introduce shoppers to live product discovery, demonstrations and community engagement. “This initiative reflects the growing interest in live commerce as an emerging shopping format, enabling niche and emerging brands to connect directly with enthusiasts through authentic content,” AliExpress said, adding that its creator program is global, spanning 12 markets including Brazil, Spain, Italy, Japan and Germany as well as the U.S.
Juspay joins Mastercard Engage Network
Juspay, a global payments technology company, said it joined the Mastercard Engage partner network as a certified third-party partner for Mastercard Click to Pay. Mastercard describes the platform as “a global partner ecosystem that connects Mastercard with qualified technology partners to help financial institutions and merchants accelerate the deployment of innovative payment solutions,” which simply means they’re making it easier for retailers and banks to onboard different payment options.
By listing on the Engage portal, Juspay said it has taken a significant step toward delivering faster, safer and more seamless global digital payment experiences for merchants and consumers. Building on its successful rollout in Brazil, Juspay is expanding Click to Pay globally to eliminate manual card entry, which minimizes checkout friction, reduces cart abandonment and boosts conversion rates.
This integration aims to enhance the overall checkout experience by combining advanced capabilities, including biometric authentication with passkeys for secure and “passwordless” transactions as well as card tokenization to reduce fraud risk.
“Joining the Mastercard Engage partner network is an important milestone as we scale Click to Pay globally,” said Mark Ronayne, associate director of International at Juspay. “At Juspay, we’re focused on removing friction from the checkout experience while maintaining the highest standards of security. With Click to Pay, we’re enabling merchants to offer a consistent, one-click checkout, helping improve conversion while delivering a seamless payment experience for consumers.”
Foot Traffic Falls as Gas Prices Climb
Here’s a quick take on nationwide foot traffic at gas stations: According to Placer.ai, foot traffic has fallen sharply as U.S. fuel prices surged from approximately $2.80 per gallon in early January to around $4.50 by mid-May. For the week of May 18, overall gas station visits plummeted 5.7 percent year-over-year, signaling that skyrocketing costs at the pump are forcing Americans to alter their driving habits.
The economic strain is triggering a broader pullback in consumer spending and retail traffic. The research firm said discretionary retail visits dipped below prior-year levels in late April, and by mid-May, even essential, non-discretionary chains saw a year-over-year decline. Experts note this dual drop suggests consumers are not only driving less but are aggressively consolidating trips to conserve fuel.
While the traditional fueling sector stumbles, wholesale clubs are emerging as a major exception to the downturn. In contrast to the broader retail decline, Placer.ai wholesale giants posted surging traffic for the week of May 18, with visits jumping 14.5 percent at BJ’s Wholesale Club, 10.6 percent at Sam’s Club, and 5.9 percent at Costco, as drivers increasingly turn to membership clubs to hunt for discounted fuel and bulk savings.
