Rising Inflation Impacting Bay Area Small Businesses

CBS Bay Area

May 13, 2026

Inflation is now at 3.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and for the first time in three years, rising prices are now outpacing American wages. People are looking for ways to cut costs - both consumers and retailers - and Bay Area small businesses are feeling the impact.

The biggest effects of inflation are usually felt in the smallest of businesses. Operating a food truck in Concord isn't likely to make anyone rich, but with the price of gas going ballistic, Ruben Hernandez was having a hard time even breaking even.

"Yeah, yeah, we have to raise the prices because it's a lot of, very expensive right now, the gasoline," he said. "Yeah, we used to fill it up, my truck, with maybe $90. Now I have to spend, like, $150, almost $160 for one tank. It's really, really hard to work like that."

Click here for the full story via CBS Bay Area

CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.