As millions of American employees return to their offices after working from home for almost two years, they are being greeted by high prices on almost every items.

Food, commuting, rising gas prices and soaring inflation are putting a severe dent into the worker’s pockets, making it difficult to go back to the office. What makes this journey even more excruciating is that their daily expenses aren’t keeping up with their earnings, reports CNN.

According to the Labor Department, food prices shot by up 9.4 per cent in April —the biggest jump since April 1981. And grocery store prices increased 10.8 per cent for the year ended in April.

Office workers are seeing higher costs on everything— from their morning coffee to their lunchtime salad.

For example, Starbucks raised prices in the US earlier this year and in October 2021 and added that the prices could go even higher.

Salad chain Sweetgreen has raised its menu prices by 10% since the start of 2021, the company said in its most recent earnings report.

Similar trends are being witnessed across restaurants and other companies in the US that have raised menu prices due to global inflation.&nbsp;

Experts are calling this phenomenon “Lunchflation”.

CNN&nbsp;gathered public opinion where several people agreed that work-related expenses were quite real.&nbsp;

"Lunchflation is 100% real, everything is more expensive," Kelly Yau McClay, who lives in Potomac, Maryland, told CNN.

But for some, returning to the workplace have bright a slight relief. The pandemic has altered the spending habits of millions of Americans with expenses on dining out being replaced with high grocery bills and home-cooked meals.

Sara Hill, who works in the insurance industry in Buffalo, New York, noticed that her grocery saw her food budget increase when she and her four children were home full-time.

"I was eating more food because I am closer to the kitchen... my food spending was still increasing because we were all home," said Hill.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

As millions of American employees return to their offices after working from home for almost two years, they are being greeted by high prices on almost every items.

As millions of American employees return to their offices after working from home for almost two years, they are being greeted by high prices on almost every items. Food, commuting, rising gas prices and soaring inflation are putting a severe dent into the worker’s pockets, making it difficult to go back to the office. What makes this journey even more excruciating is that their daily expenses aren’t keeping up with their earnings, reports CNN. According to the Labor Department, food prices shot by up 9.4 per cent in April —the biggest jump since April 1981. And grocery store prices increased 10.8 per cent for the year ended in April. Office workers are seeing higher costs on everything— from their morning coffee to their lunchtime salad. For example, Starbucks raised prices in the US earlier this year and in October 2021 and added that the prices could go even higher. Salad chain Sweetgreen has raised its menu prices by 10% since the start of 2021, the company said in its most recent earnings report. Similar trends are being witnessed across restaurants and other companies in the US that have raised menu prices due to global inflation. Experts are calling this phenomenon “Lunchflation”. CNN gathered public opinion where several people agreed that work-related expenses were quite real. "Lunchflation is 100% real, everything is more expensive," Kelly Yau McClay, who lives in Potomac, Maryland, told CNN. But for some, returning to the workplace have bright a slight relief. The pandemic has altered the spending habits of millions of Americans with expenses on dining out being replaced with high grocery bills and home-cooked meals. Sara Hill, who works in the insurance industry in Buffalo, New York, noticed that her grocery saw her food budget increase when she and her four children were home full-time. "I was eating more food because I am closer to the kitchen... my food spending was still increasing because we were all home," said Hill. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Now, American workers have a new headache. It’s called ‘Lunchflation’

Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today that the government was deliberating on an immediate solution to control the rising fuel prices and that apart from the Goods and Services Tax (GST), other ways were also being thought of to ease the situation.

The petroleum minister also asked the Odisha government to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products to contain the cascading effect on rising fuel prices.

"The oil ministry is of the view to bring petroleum products under the purview of the GST in order to bring down the prices of petrol and diesel. We are deliberating on an immediate solution to this problem till that time," Pradhan told reporters here.

"We will certainly find a way out to deal with the situation," he said.

The union minister said the central government had in October last year reduced the excise on fuel by Rs 2 per litre keeping in view the interest of the poor people. This time the Centre is looking at both short and long term solutions, he said.

The petroleum minister attributed the rising oil prices to "circumstances in the international market" because of which the value of the Indian rupee had reduced in comparison to the dollar leading to the surge in oil prices.

"The political differences between two oil-producing countries Iran and Venezuela has been a major cause behind the rise in the price of fuel in the international market," he said.

Odisha Finance Minister SB Behera criticised Pradhan and accused him of "evading responsibility."

"The reasons that the union oil minister is giving is not justified. He is telling this to suppress the central government's inability to deal with the situation. The price of petrol and diesel will automatically come down if the centre reduces excise duty," he said.

On Pradhan's suggestions to include petroleum products under GST, Behera said, "All the state governments will take a decision in regard to the proposal of including petroleum products under GST. Now the Centre should not escape from its responsibility."

Both opposition Congress and ruling BJD in Odisha have launched agitations against the spiralling prices of petrol and diesel.&nbsp

(With inputs from agencies)

Dharmendra Pradhan saidthat the government was deliberating on an immediate solution to control the rising fuel prices and that apart from the Goods and Services Tax, other ways were also being thought of to ease the situation

Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today that the government was deliberating on an immediate solution to control the rising fuel prices and that apart from the Goods and Services Tax (GST), other ways were also being thought of to ease the situation. The petroleum minister also asked the Odisha government to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products to contain the cascading effect on rising fuel prices. "The oil ministry is of the view to bring petroleum products under the purview of the GST in order to bring down the prices of petrol and diesel. We are deliberating on an immediate solution to this problem till that time," Pradhan told reporters here. "We will certainly find a way out to deal with the situation," he said. The union minister said the central government had in October last year reduced the excise on fuel by Rs 2 per litre keeping in view the interest of the poor people. This time the Centre is looking at both short and long term solutions, he said. The petroleum minister attributed the rising oil prices to "circumstances in the international market" because of which the value of the Indian rupee had reduced in comparison to the dollar leading to the surge in oil prices. "The political differences between two oil-producing countries Iran and Venezuela has been a major cause behind the rise in the price of fuel in the international market," he said. Odisha Finance Minister SB Behera criticised Pradhan and accused him of "evading responsibility." "The reasons that the union oil minister is giving is not justified. He is telling this to suppress the central government's inability to deal with the situation. The price of petrol and diesel will automatically come down if the centre reduces excise duty," he said. On Pradhan's suggestions to include petroleum products under GST, Behera said, "All the state governments will take a decision in regard to the proposal of including petroleum products under GST. Now the Centre should not escape from its responsibility." Both opposition Congress and ruling BJD in Odisha have launched agitations against the spiralling prices of petrol and diesel. (With inputs from agencies)

GST is one way: Petroleum minister on curbing rising fuel prices

rising-petrol-prices

Rising Petrol Prices, News on Rising Petrol Prices, stories on Rising Petrol Prices, articles on Rising Petrol Prices, Rising Petrol Prices stories at Wion, Rising Petrol Prices news, Rising Petrol Prices latest news

rising petrol-prices

Now, American workers have a new headache. It’s called ‘Lunchflation’

GST is one way: Petroleum minister on curbing rising fuel prices