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Small businesses say high fuel costs from war in Middle East 'pretty hard to swallow'
Small businesses in Canada face up to 25% fuel price increases linked to Middle East conflict blocking 20 million barrels of oil daily through the Strait of Hormuz, CFIB says.
- On March 16, 2026, Murray Frame said rising fuel costs are squeezing small businesses and hurting sales, calling the increase 'pretty hard to swallow.'
- The Middle East conflict has blocked tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting supply lines that support 20 million barrels per day of global oil flows.
- Evidence from a Claresholm, Alta., supplier indicates that aviation gasoline, about $2 a litre, could rise to $2.30 or $2.50, and a supplier may add 20–30 cents per litre.
- A CFIB survey found roughly 80 per cent of about 1,200 respondents worry the war will affect them, while 10 to 15 per cent have cut staff hours due to rising energy costs.
- Many small firms say with scarce reserves and thin margins, high shipping prices force sellers to price dozens of shippers and lose about half of online quotes, squeezing margins.
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The Toronto Star+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
Small businesses say high fuel costs from war in Middle East ‘pretty hard to swallow’
For the time being, two-thirds of CFIB members have said they are eating the rising cost of fuel, rather than passing it along to customers.
·Toronto, Canada
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(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Im Seong-ho = As international oil prices and exchange rates rise due to the Middle East crisis, fuel surcharges imposed on international flight tickets this coming April are surging compared to the previous month...
·Korea (the Republic of)
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The war in the Middle East presents the vulnerability of a Europe which is already hard to deal with by the energy crisis between Russia and the Wall...
·Ilfov County, Romania
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Total News Sources10
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 38%
12%
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