California fast-food prices rose 7% in run-up to $20 minimum wage — highest in US
NY Post
Fast-food prices in California rose 7% in a six-month period leading up to the state’s new $20-an-hour minimum wage law that has forced franchisees in the Golden State to cut back on work hours, postpone capital improvements and expedite the rollout of self-serve kiosks.
California registered the highest rate of menu price inflation in the country in the period leading up to April 1 — when the minimum wage increase from $16 an hour to $20 an hour went into effect, according to a study by analytics firm Datassential.
Washington State saw the second highest price hikes for fast food menu items, which rose 6.1% during the same period.
Kentucky was No. 3 at 6%. Nationwide, fast food prices rose by 4.5% in the six months preceding April 1.
The study found that all of California’s 30 area codes were in the top 30% of the highest price hikes for menu items in fast food restaurants.
The 530 area code, which covers most of Northern California, saw the highest net menu price inflation among fast food restaurants in the country — 8.9%.
