elephantintheroom : great post. That is why I posted this. You are so right

Well put, Mrs. Elephant. These increases don't really help anyone for long because they necessitate either layoffs, reduced hours, or rises in prices.

Kentucky lags behind many states in minimum wage. They typically keep their minimum to the federal minimum, and nothing more, where many states already had a higher minimum. I suppose that's somewhat understandable since the cost of living in most parts of KY is very low when compared with many other states, and small businesses in KY are definitely going to feel a pinch from this.

I love the ElephantInTheRoom nick, btw.

Best regards,
Jade

If it's any consolation, the minimum wage has increased to just over $7. It's still not much at all, but every penny helps.

That is a drastic increase in minimum wage which in turn puts a huge fiscal impact on businesses who will have to make this up in order to stay in business. They either have to lay off, reduce benefits, raise prices, or with the economy in the state as it is with many businesses barely hanging on, this could put them out of business. This hurts the little businesses more so. Places who have people who started at minimum wage of $6.55 per hour and have different scales for different levels will have to change their entire pay scale. I'm not saying periodic raising of minimum wage is not needed. Of course it is. However, such a dramatic increase could actually hurt the economy instead of help it. Many big name restaurants and retail stores that we take for granted are a the edge of going out of business. If they are to stay in business, what do they have to do? Lay offs, raise prices. I can't afford to eat fast food anymore. It costs as much to eat at many fast food places where they barely even say thank you as it does to go to a sit down restaurant and get good service. We, family of 3, went to a local ff place and paid $17.00 for one sandwich, a chicken strip meal to share with my daughter, and two ice creams. My husband shared my ice cream, and we didn't get any drinks because drinks are not included with their value meals. The Sunday afterwards, we went to a restaurant on the east side of town and had a great time. Since it was Sunday, kids got to eat free. With everyone having their own meal, drink, and sharing a dessert we paid $18.00 (not to mention the free unlimited chips and salsa!) One dollar more than the fast food place where we really skimped. We eat out a lot less because restaurants raised their prices last year when the gas prices were so high. What will they do if they have to raise salaries? It is a ripple effect. I understand how hard it is to live on minimum wage. I've done it, and I make not much more than that now. However, I prefer having a job than not having one. Again, this is my opinion, and I've got to love a country who still lets me say it! :)

i agree pianoman. How do they make it? It is awful, imagine you would have to work well over 50 hours to even make a little bit of money, while the fatcats sit in Washington making bucks!

I have sympathy for the people who are still working for minimum wage. How do they make it? It's got to be very difficult. I make a lot more, but it's still expensive trying to make a living nowadays. I feel for you folks because I used to work for minimum wage at one time too.

dont matter,everything eles will just go up even more so it will equeal out all the same.which is still nothing like now,everything goes up in the world but pay checks,cant even make it 1.00 more on the hour raise,but can throw billions to a country that we have no reason being there,and they could care less about us,or even worse hate us,what a ****** up country,,,,,lol

I find it strange that yesterday there were 5 comments on this post and today there is only one.

Most stores already factored that into the February price changes. Around end of July/August is the next major price hike. Twice a year, always around the same time. Have noticed that years ago.