Desperate for workers, US restaurants and stores raise pay
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economic Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. restaurants and stores are rapidly raising pay in an urgent effort to attract more applicants and keep up with a flood of customers as the pandemic eases. McDonald’s, Sheetz and Chipotle are just some of the latest companies to follow Amazon, Walmart and Costco in boosting wages, in some cases to $15 an hour or higher. The pay gains are, of course, a boon to these employees. But they could also contribute to higher inflation, if companies raise prices to cover the additional labor costs.