[twobjshelbys]

It's all about margins. A manufacturing business needs about 20%+/- to be sustainable. So you can either reduce your costs or increase your price. With the cost of raw goods going up (go ahead and continue drinking the government "inflation is under control" kool-aide) there only seems to be one option.

My estimate for inflation is something like 8-10% instead of the government advertised 2-3%. Most of it is health care and fuel being passed through. I haven't had a raise in 3 years (adjusting our salaries downwards) and even if I did my health care costs have gone up about 30%. That's about a 15% over all pay cut. And everything I buy gets more expensive. Bought a jar of peanut butter lately?