Folks in the Golden State, brace yourselves for a hit to your wallets. Fast-food giants McDonald’s and Chipotle are planning to jack up their menu prices following California’s recent wage hike for fast-food workers. California has decided to raise the minimum wage for these employees to $20 per hour – the highest in the nation.

Now, we all understand that businesses need to make a profit to keep their doors open. But let’s not forget who will bear the brunt of these price increases – hardworking, everyday Americans.

McDonald’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski, has announced that the company will raise prices in California. The exact amount remains unknown, but considering the burger chain is already raising prices nationwide due to inflation, it won’t be a small change.

Chipotle’s CFO, Jack Hartung, is also jumping on the bandwagon, stating that they plan to raise prices by a “mid-to-high single-digit” percentage.

Both companies have reported strong revenue growth in the latest quarter. But at what cost?

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a law increasing the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 per hour. This decision is expected to affect approximately 500,000 fast-food workers in the state. The initial proposal was even more outrageous – a $22 per hour minimum wage. However, it was eventually settled at $20 per hour. The aim? To supposedly improve the financial well-being of fast-food workers and address income inequality.

But there’s a problem here. While the intention might seem noble, the reality is that businesses like McDonald’s and Chipotle are being squeezed by rising inflation, which has led to higher costs for ingredients and labor. To stay profitable, they’ve had to increase menu prices.

This move will undoubtedly help offset the additional labor costs from the wage increase. But guess who it hurts? The same people it’s supposed to help – the consumers. Higher prices could lead to reduced demand for fast food. McDonald’s has already noted a decline in visits from lower-income customers in the past quarter, clearly indicating that surging prices are affecting consumer spending.

Despite these potential impacts, both McDonald’s and Chipotle have reported strong revenue growth in the latest quarter. But let’s be clear. This isn’t about customer loyalty. It’s about passing on the cost of bad policies to the consumer.

McDonald’s and Chipotle’s decision to raise menu prices in California is a direct consequence of the state’s ill-advised minimum wage hike for fast-food workers. While higher prices may impact consumer behavior, it’s clear that this policy is hitting everyday Americans where it hurts most – their pockets.