(Radio Iowa) – The Ankeny-based Casey’s convenience store chain reports its gross profit rose in the just completed fourth quarter by nearly nine percent compared to the previous year. President and C-E-O, Darren Rebelez, says their in-store sales were up, while the fuel gallons remained flat. He says they are starting to see a few changes in what’s been a tough economy as some of the costs brought on by inflation have eased.

The company saw an increase in sales of its private brand products in stores, which Rebelez says is due in part to the impact of inflation and price increases for national brands. For the fiscal year, Casey’s reported net income increased 31-point-five percent to nearly 447 million dollars. The company added 81 new stores in the fiscal year, ending the year with two-thousand-521 stores.