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Inflationary pressures to boost profitability. A big number raised prices by 20
percent or more. What's up with that? Researchers wrote
ne thing dampening my that among businesses that have increased prices, 55
holiday spirit is inflation. percent shrank discounts, and 48 percent increased the
The Wall Street Journal said price of complementary products. Other tactics they're
O that the U.S. inflation rate using include increasing surcharges and various types
reached an all-time high in October of bundling of products and services. What do you folks
2021, as consumer prices jumped 6.2 make of all of this?
percent, and the core index was up 4.6 percent with Mark Appleton
demand remaining sky high and supply chain shortages Customer Service Rep
continuing. Mark,

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve Thank you for reaching out to us. We found the report
Chairman Jerome Powell testified about this rise in you referenced at https://digital.com/half-of-retail-businesses-
inflation during a House Financial Services Committee using-inflation-to-price-gouge/. And it is illuminating. Since
meeting just the other day. Yellen defended the Biden we, at The Green Sheet, are not economists, we cannot offer
administration's actions. She said, "Inflation is a matter truly informed advice on this topic. However, the impact
of demand and supply, and it’s certainly true that the of inflation on the payments industry is a compelling topic
American Rescue Plan put money into people’s pockets, that we will consider for possible follow up.
but if you look at the amount of inflation that we have
and its causes, that is at most a small contributor.” It's no Inflation and your biz
surprise that Democrats and Republicans at the meeting Has inflation impacted your merchants or your own
disagreed over the causes. business this year? If so, how? And are you taking steps
to lessen its effects on your bottom line? Please share
I think another cause is just plain old greed. I came your thoughts on this or other relevant topics via email to
across a study by Digital.com that indicates 56 percent of greensheet@greensheet.com.
retail businesses have increased prices beyond inflation