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Inflation has sunk its teeth into small businesses this year. The number of owners citing inflation as their No. 1 concern on the National Federation of Independent Businesses monthly economic index in April was at its highest level since 1982. One in five owners is raising prices, according to William C. Dunkelberg, the trade group's chief economist.

“What's happening is every time people open the back door to receive supplies, prices are higher,” Mr. Dunkelberg said. “Right now they are trying to pass it on to their customers.” In April, 35 percent of owners said they raised prices, he added.

Officially, the government is indicating that inflation is in check, taking into account seasonal variations. On Tuesday, the Labor Department reported that wholesale prices climbed just 0.2 percent in April. The core rate, though, which excludes food and energy, had its largest year-over-year jump since 1991.

And last week, the government reported that consumer prices inched up in April, suggesting cooling inflation.

But on Main Street and in households across America — where rapidly rising fuel and food prices are not excluded — the picture is not so rosy. Gasoline prices are now up to about $3.80 a gallon. The cost of diesel fuel, which powers many small business vehicles, set a record yet again on Wednesday, about $4.56 a gallon, up nearly 64 percent from a year ago. And food prices rose at a 0.9 percent rate in April, the biggest one-month jump since 1990.