KILLEEN, Texas — Small businesses are fighting the good fight in Central Texas.
No matter the industry, businesses have been affected in some way since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Bureau Census found in their Small Business Pulse Survey a large negative effect from COVID-19 for the majority (51.4%) of respondents and an expectation that it will take more than six months for their businesses to return to normal.
Business owner Luiggie Rodriguez of Costamar Restaurant in Killeen says he actually closed his doors during the pandemic.
Rodriguez said, “We had a very good acceptance we had people coming in from Killeen, Austin, San Antonio , San Marcos up until today.”
Today things have changed and its for most small businesses a professional of economics says.
Economist, Dr Robert Tennant of TAMUCT said, “Just because we keep hearing numbers like inflation is at 8 and a half percent or 9.1 percent.. that doesn’t tell the story to what restaurants are facing.. the price of beef went up nearly 50%”
Still, small businesses try to hold on during this record inflation.
“It’s been a toll its kinda hard," said Rodriguez.
