Many restaurants expecting to raise prices

[Newsjock]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The cost of beef has gone through the roof, coffee prices are at a 13-year high, and even produce grown right here in California is more expensive than usual.

Grocery prices rose by more than 1 1/2 times the overall rate of inflation in 2010, according to government statistics, and economists predict that it will be even worse this year. For months consumers have grappled with higher prices at the supermarket, while restaurateurs pulled out every kitchen trick they could to absorb food inflation costs.

Well, the party is over. Experts say restaurant-goers can expect to see as much as an 8 percent increase in their checks.

And that may not be enough to keep the big chains alive, let alone the small independent eating places. Already suffering from flagging sales and low profit margins, record-high food prices - brought on by low supplies of corn, soybeans and wheat - could be the coup de gras for many restaurateurs. A number of chains, including the Texas parent company of Fuddruckers and Koo Koo Roo Chicken, filed bankruptcy last year; Sbarro Inc. is expected to file for bankruptcy protection as soon as this week. Meanwhile, El Pollo Loco Inc. and Perkins & Marie Callender's Inc. have been struggling with debt problems.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/02/BU861IMH4C.DTL&tsp=1

[Lithos]

1. More importantly

What about the cost of beer?

[grasswire]

2. to say nothing of travel expenses nt

[kentauros]

3. At both of you!

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

[Newest Reality]

4. Many experiences will be going up, too!

;)

[Tunkamerica]

7. where is he? i haven't seen a post of his for a week or two.

[grasswire]

8. maybe he got some travel money after all. n/t

[Tunkamerica]

10. omg he's coming!!! and i have beer!

[kelly1mm]

6. Brew your own for pennies per bottle. nt

[SpiralHawk]

11. Ye Olde Bathtub Brewmasters

[louslobbs]

5. And just where are they going to find all of the employed people who can afford to eat out anymore

go ahead, raise your prices, I'd rather eat at home and give any money I would have spent on eating out to a food kitchen for those the rich corporate pigs and their government have pushed into poverty. Do you have a table......for none?
Lou

[cutlassmama]

9. best post of the week

[McCamy Taylor]

12. I own no stock in Fiesta Food Stores, but if your budget is tight you can get fresh

produce, cheap meat and seafood and lots of stuff you can make from scratch like beans there.

Eating healthy food you make at home is better for you. Your family will be less obese. Just don't rely on prepacked junk food. And for god's sake, cut out the soft drinks. Empty calories that go straight to the hips.