Businesses, consumers feel extra pain at the pump as diesel prices hits record high

If you're filling your tank with diesel, you're probably feeling extra pain at the pump as the national average hit another record high Monday.

News 12 Staff

May 10, 2022, 12:39 AM

Updated 809 days ago

Share:

If you're filling your tank with diesel, you're probably feeling extra pain at the pump as the national average hit another record high Monday.
That pain is also being felt by consumers as they head out to shop for goods. It's a difficult conversation to have with local businesses owners like Luangisa African Art Gallery in Mount Vernon, a company that relies on travel to make a profit - and now they're contemplating pulling the plug after 26 years.
Rose Luangisa, owner of an African art shop, says she's on the helm of shutting her nearly 30-year business down. They sell artifacts, decor and everyday utensils that are handmade by village women across Africa. Travel to and from the different countries is essential to bring back pieces for the store.
A portion of profit goes back to artisans of the villages to support families and raise their children, but the astronomical rise of fuel prices is staggering.
Paying for truckers to bring the artifacts from the airport to her shop is running the business dry. Now they don't know how much longer they can last.
"With the truckers, the prices went up, I used to pay $800 to bring it up here, now it's $2,000," says Luangisa. "I really feel bad for the artisans back in Africa that I'm trying to support because they are the ones that are really going to be affected, because the depend on us."
So, they're literally dishing out far more than they can get in terms of profit when you look into what goes into a shop like this.
For now, this means customers will have to wait at least six months to get items they want or scale down on the size of artifacts they're looking for. 


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued