CBS News · 19 Sep, 03:40 · Business briefing

Colorado small business owner struggles with record diesel prices and energy inflation: "Prices are exorbitant"

A recent report highlights the severe financial strain on Colorado small business owners amid record-high diesel prices and broader energy inflation.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

2.7xfaster promotion for certified professionals

71%of leaders prefer candidates who upskill continuously

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A recent report highlights the severe financial strain on Colorado small business owners amid record-high diesel prices and broader energy inflation. Business operators describe current costs as exorbitant, signalling significant operational challenges. This development underscores the tangible impact of macroeconomic volatility on local enterprises, particularly those reliant on logistics or energy-intensive processes. For professionals, it serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness between global energy markets and local business viability, necessitating a closer look at cost management and supply chain resilience strategies.

Employer demand for Supply Chain skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must now prioritise cost efficiency and supply chain resilience in your professional strategy. Skills in financial modelling and risk management are surging in value, as organisations desperately seek to mitigate rising operational costs. If you work in logistics, manufacturing, or small business advisory, pay close attention to fuel hedging and alternative energy solutions. A smart professional would immediately audit their current expense structures and upskill in strategic cost control. Consider mastering data analytics to identify waste and optimise resource allocation. By positioning yourself as a specialist in navigating economic volatility, you become indispensable to leadership teams focused on survival and sustainable growth during this inflationary period.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Supply Chain, Financial Modeling, Risk Management Strategies and Sustainability management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.