I hate to read that.
Minimum wage also rose - a lot in some states.
The stupidity is growing exponentially at this point.
Voters in Albuqerque, NM voted to raise Albuquerque minimum wage by $1.00/hour starting January 1. It's now $8.50/hour. Went to a food joint on the 31st of December, all the prices were up accordingly to compensate for this.
Last year they raised the minimum wage in Santa Fe to over $10 and in Albuquerque to $8.50. Here in Rio Rancho it is still $7.50 and with our recently elected conservative city councilors it isn’t likely to change, fortunately.