Higher gas prices affect small Southern Kentucky businesses

SOMERSET, Ky. (WYMT) - It is harder to make money when you have to spend more on the job. Small business owners who drive a lot are facing that reality right now.

Gas prices in southern Kentucky are about $4 a gallon, and people are shelling out big bucks just to fill up and get to the job site.

Charles Day owns a roofing business and said he drives hundreds of miles a week, and fills up every other day. With gas prices rising, that means he’s paying about $120 to fill up. He said at some point, you have to pass the expense on to the customer.

“Absolutely and I dread doing that because it’s hard for everyone to understand. It’s not just gas prices, it’s shortages on everything. We have dealt with shingle shortages. Sometimes to do a replacement we have to go to four different places,” Day said.

Now, not only are businesses dealing with a shortage of supplies, they are having to pay so much more to do the job.

Day said two years ago when gas prices fell, he could fill up for $60.