Gas prices squeeze some small firms

NEW YORK
The USA’s more than 20 million small companies have been especially hard hit, as pump prices soared to an average $2.60 a gallon last week, up 39% from a year ago, AAA says. With less capital, they can’t always invest in new equipment or take other steps to boost energy efficiency.

Small companies also have less wiggle room to shift a cost increase to customers. “It takes them awhile to pass it along,” says William Dennis, head of the research arm of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) trade group.

USA Today