Inflation affecting local small businesses in Yuma

As costs continue to increase nationwide, small businesses in Yuma are seeing nearly all costs of operation increase - 13 On Your Side's Luis Lopez reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Costs are going up for small businesses in Yuma and local business owners are having to adapt as they continue to see increased expenses.

Michael Beyl owns The Press Cafe and Bistro in Yuma.

Inflation has caused just about everything he needs to be more expensive and soon customers will have to take on those costs.

“Well next week I’m looking at upping the prices on our menus unfortunately, I’ve tried to hold off all year, but we’re finally at the point where if I’m gonna make ends meet we got to pull the prices up a little bit,” Beyl said.

Beyl says everything from food products to utensils are more expensive. It’s all part of a seven percent increase to the consumer price index over last year.

A stat from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics which measures overall price changes. The increase is the largest since June 1982.

Another business affected is Houston’s Yuma Furniture. Sales and design manager, Caroline Dempsey, says increased shipping costs have given them problems.

“You know shipping is a big deal yes, and not just the local aspect of it with our own gasoline in our trucks but the freight companies that we use, everything has gone up tremendously.”

As Houston’s said, fuel costs have gone up too. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting gasoline and oil saw the biggest price increase last year, at nearly 50 percent for each.