John Andrews, a South Carolina-based chef who runs a meal delivery service, estimates he drives over 100 miles every week to deliver fresh home-cooked meals to his clients.
“The economy is killing me on food prices. And gas prices are tough now, too,” Andrews said. “It’s kind of a double whammy. I’m working just as hard as ever, but I’m losing ground here.”
After several years of higher operating costs and softer consumer demand, gas prices are climbing as the war with Iran escalates. That’s adding pressure on small businesses, which power the US economy and account for most of the country’s jobs.