Fuel costs hurt business

When gasoline prices hit $3 a gallon a year ago, Selden Chase, the owner of Chase’s Greenhouse & Florist Inc. in Rush, discontinued a wholesale delivery route that covered western New York.

As the price of gas climbed past $3 this year, Chase said, he had to increase the delivery rate for his retail customers.

Gasoline is the biggest business expense for Rob Johnson of Rochester, the operator of the restaurant delivery service RochesterMenus.com. Johnson, who charges a flat rate of $3.50 for the delivery of food from five restaurants, said he is not planning an increase because of fuel costs.

At R Drugs Etc. Inc. in Rochester, pharmacist and owner Ome Oluikpe said cuts in Medicaid reimbursements effective July 1 and rising gas prices might force him to reconsider free delivery of prescriptions, which he has offered since opening 2