FAYETTEVILLE -- As gas prices continue to rise, the pain at the pump is moving to the checkout line.
Tracy Leveck says her food costs have gone way up. "Oh yeah, especially produce that has gone up a lot. Bread, wheat, flour all of that has just gone up drastically," she says. Nationwide food prices increased by more than one percent last month. That's the largest one month increase in almost two years.
Ray Ruszczak, manager at Tops Friendly Markets in Fayetteville, says when gas prices get this high it drives up the cost of food. "It's just everyone passing on their costs. Local vendors have more costs. It just seems everyone needs to pass those costs because you are paying twice as much for gas as you did two years ago. That gets everybody's pocket. They have no choice but to raise the cost," he says.
Ruszcak says Tops is trying its best to keep from raising its prices. The store is actually selling some of its hams below cost to help customers have an affordable Easter dinner. "We just want everyone to be able have a nice dinner and enjoy it," he says.
