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Gas Prices Put Squeeze on Businesses, Too

Posted on: Friday, 21 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Ashley Kelly, The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y.

Apr. 20--Even as motorists struggle to save enough to make it from point A to B, businesses like taxi companies, landscapers and florists are taking a hit, too.

"It's quite scary," said Debbie Jurgens, owner of B&D Taxi in Walden.

Gas prices continued to escalate yesterday across the region, hitting as high as $3.15 a gallon for regular unleaded in the Town of Wallkill. Crude oil hit another record yesterday, $72.17 a barrel.

Jurgens said if gas prices don't come down soon, she will have to raise her prices.

"I hate to hurt the people -- they don't have the money either," Jurgens said.

Some other cab companies have already raised fares, and said their survival is at stake.

"We had to raise prices between 10 to 15 percent," said Vince Destafeno, manager of ASAP Taxi in Goshen. "If they keep going up, I'm going to have to raise them by more."

Lesa Friedlander of Pine Bush, said she understands that gas prices also directly affect businesses. She's a waitress, and said she's seen fewer people eating out. "I think it's totally outrageous," Friedlander said of the cost of gas. "It affects everybody."

Taxi cab companies have not been the only ones affected by the spike in prices. Local florists, landscapers and gardening centers are feeling it, too.

Tammy Gresham, owner of Candlelite Florist in Washingtonville, had to raise delivery costs. When the florist opened last June, she charged $6 for a delivery; now she charges $8.

"You have to raise your price or you will be in the negative," Gresham said.

Anna Mercurio, owner of Anna Mercurio Gardens, in the Hamlet of Wallkill, also had to increase her prices.

"It is costing more to get the plant material to the store, as well as to deliver to the customer," said Mercurio, whose company delivers bulk materials like mulch and stone. Mercurio's delivery prices have gone up between $10 and $30.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Times Herald-Record (Middletown, New York)

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