// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Rising fuel costs hitting businesses and customers
Flower shop owner Mark Nicholas said fuel costs had affected deliveries
Businesses and consumers in a town say soaring fuel prices are having a growing impact on both their day-to-day operations and spending power.
Hayle in Cornwall is home to a range of independent businesses that rely on regular deliveries, tourism and customers travelling from across the region.
Petrol prices rose to an average of 161.3p per litre between July and August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the highest level recorded since November 2022, and diesel is expected to top £2 per litre in the coming days
Mark Nicholas, who runs flower shop The Big Pink Tree, said: "The fuel increase has really affected really how far we can deliver to serve our customer base."
Surf shop manager Justin Lapskas said fuel costs had an impact on imports
Nicholas added: "Because of the increase we've had to pull back slightly from the area that we deliver which upsets me because I can't serve every customer that we used to serve."
Local residents said filling up their vehicles was also putting pressure on household finances.
One worker drives an eight mile round-trip between Carbis Bay and Hayle every day and said fuel costs had become "extortionate". She said she no longer considered making extra journeys at weekends because of the cost.
Emma Crossley said customers have been waiting longer between haircuts