High gas and food prices are driving North Olympic Peninsula residents to either shop more at thrift stores or just shop less, say operators of area thrift stores.

Whether the stores are witnessing an increase or decrease in sales, they almost all attribute their sales trends to the economy.

Five of the nine thrift stores in Clallam and Jefferson counties whose managers spoke with the Peninsula Daily News are seeing an increase in sales compared with last year, while four are seeing a decrease.

The highest increase in sales has been at the Port Townsend Goodwill store, which has seen a rise of 25 percent over last year, said Kimberly Fulginiti, store manager.

Fulginiti attributed this increase to the economy, and Port Townsend residents trying to stretch their dollar.

“Because of the price of gas, people don’t want to travel outside of town, especially here,” she said.

“For the most part, they come here because they can find anything.”