Customers may soon have to pay grocery gas surcharges

Grocery stores facing supplier gas surcharges may soon have to pass costs onto consumers.

Joe LePage

4:27 p.m. EST, February 28, 2012

Indianapolis

Good Earth Natural Food Company is a whole foods store in the middle of Broad Ripple. It has been there for 41 years. Monique McGuire is a regular customer. Right now, the rising cost of gas is sparking light-hearted discussion.

"We were thinking at work, 'okay, if it goes up to over $5 gallon we are going to have to catch the bus to work or something like that,'" said McGuire.

The trickle-down effect gas prices could have on the items she buys is no joke, though. To make up for the money lost to fill up the tank, manufacturers sometimes charge places like Good Earth a fuel surcharge.

"Companies will usually send out some information saying, 'Hey, with the recent gas spike we are going to add a fuel charge.' We have seen that fuel charge increase by up to 500 percent with some companies," said Rudy Nehrling, Good Earth Manager.

Right now, Good Earth is picking up the cost of that fuel surcharge. If that charge continues, or goes up, it could mean customers might be paying more for the items down store aisles.

"If it is not coming back down, you could see prices going up by nickels and dimes," said Nehrling.

If prices go up at her store, McGuire said she will either wait for a sale, or cut her list in half.

"Instead of getting it all at once, if it costs more, just get a little at a time," said McGuire.

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