SmallBusinessNewz

Traveling can be nice, leading to neat new places and profitable relationships.  It can also be a hassle, with bad hotels and worse meetings making everything look like a waste of time and money.  This second perspective seems to be worth adopting as energy costs continue to rise.

It's easy to believe that people have stopped making single-purpose personal runs to other cities; grabbing coffee with an old friend isn't cool when the cost of gas equals the price of a cappuccino maker.  What's troubling is that, according to new data from the National Association for the Self-Employed, even business travel is getting cut.

"Three-quarters of business owners said they have had to cut down on the amount of travel associated with their business," reports the organization.  Which equals about 455 people out of the 600 respondents laying blame on energy costs.

We can only hope that the loose wording of "associated with their business" means conferences at resorts and expensive golf trips - as opposed to more simple face time with would-be clients - are on the chopping block.

Otherwise, a Fred Flintstone style of propulsion may become necessary.  Or prices (and inflation) might increase again, as 51 percent of respondents claimed to have already adjusted them upwards.