U.S. companies face soaring bills for all kinds of materials that they need to do business — and surging demand is helping them pass on those higher costs to their customers.
In early-season earnings calls, executives from burrito chain Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. to appliance giant Whirlpool Corp. and diaper maker Procter & Gamble Co. have outlined price hikes, largely in response to rising materials costs.
Their comments back up the data that show inflationary pressures building in the economy as the pandemic recovery gains speed. A sustained rise in prices is poised to test the Federal Reserve’s expectation that any post-Covid spike will be limited and temporary.
