Maryland Small Businesses Struggle with Soaring Gas Prices

Uncertainty in the Middle East drives fuel costs to $4.19 per gallon, impacting local companies

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:48am

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A vibrant abstract illustration composed of overlapping triangles and rectangles in shades of blue, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the economic pressures facing small businesses due to high gas prices.Soaring fuel costs force Maryland small businesses to make tough choices to stay afloat.Baltimore Today

High gas prices in Maryland, averaging $4.19 per gallon for regular and approaching $6 for diesel, are creating major challenges for small business owners. Many are trying to be more efficient with routes and passing on costs to customers, but experts warn the impact could extend beyond the pump to affect grocery prices, delivery services, and air travel.

Why it matters

Small businesses are the backbone of Maryland's economy, and the surge in fuel costs is squeezing their already tight profit margins. This could lead to higher prices for consumers and potentially force some companies to close, impacting local communities.

The details

AAA reports that Marylanders are paying above the national average for fuel, with uncertainty in the Middle East driving up prices. Small business owners like Avery Heights, who operates a tow truck, and Rich Ohler, owner of a plumbing company, say they are struggling to keep up with the rising costs and may have to pass them on to customers to avoid going out of business. Experts warn that the impact could extend beyond the pump, with potential spikes in grocery prices and delivery services, as well as airlines increasing bag fees due to rising jet fuel costs.

  • On April 9, 2026, gas prices in Maryland averaged $4.19 per gallon for regular and approached $6 for diesel.
  • On Tuesday, a two-week ceasefire agreement was announced in the Middle East, but experts say prices are unlikely to go down and may still rise further.

The players

Avery Heights

A Maryland tow truck operator who is struggling with the high gas prices and says it's hard to take care of his family due to the increased fuel costs.

Rich Ohler

The owner of R.A. Ohler Plumbing, a small business in Maryland that is trying to be more efficient with routes to avoid passing on costs to customers.

JP Krahel

An accounting professor at Loyola University who warns that the changes in fuel prices will have a ripple effect across many industries.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard to take care of your family. At the end of the day, you're working for peanuts because you spend all your money on fuel...You got to pass it on to the customer. I mean, anything other than that, you'll go out of business.”

— Avery Heights, Tow Truck Operator

“Just try and make trips count, be more efficient on routes.”

— Rich Ohler, Owner, R.A. Ohler Plumbing

“Petroleum is inundating every part of our lives. A change in one factor that we can see means a whole bunch of changes and unobservable factors that are still going to hit us.”

— JP Krahel, Accounting Professor, Loyola University

What’s next

Experts say prices are unlikely to go down in the near future, even with the recent ceasefire announcement, and may continue to rise further, impacting a wide range of industries beyond just transportation.

The takeaway

The surge in gas prices is putting immense pressure on Maryland's small businesses, forcing them to make tough choices between absorbing the costs, passing them on to customers, or potentially going out of business. This highlights the vulnerability of local companies to global economic forces and the need for policies that can provide relief and support during times of crisis.