Feeling the pinch

Rising gas prices put the squeeze on local deliveries

By MIKE BROSSETTE

With gasoline prices now staying consistently above $3 a gallon – the average price was $3.13 a gallon along the Gulf Coast on March 10 – some area businesses offering delivery services are having to change their delivery methods slightly.

Dawn Bergeron, delivery coordinator for Ashley Furniture in Houma, said while the store is keeping deliveries more localized, the main way Ashley Furniture is dealing with higher gasoline prices is by pooling deliveries.

“Say if it’s New Orleans, we may wait until we have more to do in that area,” Bergeron said. “Recently in Patterson we tried to do several at one time.”

She also said the store may have to increase its delivery prices.

Denise Bourg, owner of the House of Flowers florist shop in Houma, said the only step the store has taken to deal with higher gasoline prices is pooling deliveries.

The store has not changed the price it charges for deliveries, she said.

A local Papa John’s Pizza manager called the rise in gasoline prices “really expensive.”

“We’re more understaffed than we were two or three years ago,” he said. “We try to keep it staffed as best we can.”

He added that his store still has a sufficient number of drivers.

Good and bad news about the price of gasoline emerged Friday. The price of crude oil decreased slightly, but an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve is expected to weaken the dollar, possibly raising fuel prices.

Analysts are saying few factors exist which can keep the price of gasoline from increasing.

However, the stiff prices will eventually cut demand for fuel, they say. Demand for gasoline nationwide has fallen steadily since January.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

With prices at the gas pumps around the Tri-parishes exceeding $3.22 per gallon, local companies that provide delivery services are having to modify the way they do business. Experts say prices will continue to rise throughout the spring and summer months. * File photo