The rising price of gasoline could do more than drive up the cost of commuting or taking a vacation. It could also force you to pay a little extra to have your lawn mowed, send flowers to your sweetheart, get a pizza delivered or have a flat tire fixed.

Around the country, from a florist in Delaware to a pizza maker in Chicago, businesses that use lots of gasoline to make deliveries and service calls are raising their prices — or seriously thinking about it — to cover their costs.


In many cases, these businesses are also being hit with fuel surcharges by their suppliers. And that, too, is putting pressure on them to pass the costs along to their customers.

The situation demonstrates the many small ways in which $3-a-gallon gasoline could affect ordinary people.

Leigh Sorrells, owner of a bike shop in Danbury, Conn., said that because of higher fuel prices, bicycle makers are charging him an extra $3 to $5 for each bike shipped. He said he has yet to raise prices, but is giving customers fewer freebies, such as bike accessories.