Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Chris Yucus/NewsTribune via AP
As labor costs are rising, regional chain restaurants in states like Arizona, California, Colorado, and New York are adding a surcharge between three and four percent on diners' bills. This is intended to offset increasing wages instead of charging extra on menus upfront and scaring off consumers, according to the WSJ.
Why it's happening: The federal government hasn't raised the minimum wage since 2009 from $7.25, which is putting pressure on states to do it themselves, and 27 states have had an effective minimum wage increase since January 2014.
Why it matters: Tomorrow the jobs report will give a better sense of how widespread rising wages are. The Fed is meeting next week to announce whether it will raise interest rates, which will almost certainly affect wages as well.