Oil Prices Are Everybody's Problem

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Hickory Printing Group executive Jeff Hale has watched freight costs double at his company during the past 12 months.

Paper costs also have spiked for five straight months.

"That's a dramatic impact on the company," Hale said.

Hickory Printing is one of thousands of companies in the state and nation struggling to adjust to the impact of soaring gas prices.

Hale fears gas prices have led to an ongoing recession, along with the impact of inflation.

"That's a very tough combination," he said.

Hale and other Hickory Printing officials attended a news conference Monday regarding the energy crisis hosted by U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry. Officials from Transportation Insight, a Hickory-based transportation and freight management consulting company, and Von Drehle Corp. also attended.