This is a national tragedy. The one and only source for affordable toilet paper, kitchen utensils, red cups, paper plates, laundry detergent, off-brand cereal and all other college necessities for houses with too many people is raising its prices. Every overcrowded house on college campuses should make at least one trip a month to the 99¢ Only Stores, but now that might all change.

The O.C. Register reports:

Inflation and higher fuel prices are forcing 99¢ Only Stores to take a price hike from its top price of 99 cents to 99.99 cents later this month.

It’s the first price increase in 26 years for the discounter founded in 1982. The City of Commerce chain has 277 stores, including 19 in Orange County.

According to the company statement: 

This nearly one cent price raise will help 99¢ Only Stores offset some of the increased costs of doing business including higher fuel and commodity costs, while still maintaining its leading position as America’s Inflation Fighter! Just as Motel 6 was eventually forced to raise its price above $6, after 26 years we are forced to raise our price by just about one cent.

At least it’s not a one dollar increase. I guess I can afford 14 extra cents when I go buy 4 months of toilet paper for a house with 6 dudes.