Starbucks to hike prices on 'labor intensive' drinks

Inflation inflation, (starting to be) everywhere... ``As CNNMoney reported earlier this month, coffee futures have climbed more than 40% since June. "[This has] completely altered the economic and financial picture of many players in the coffee industry," Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz said in a written statement. "We have thus far chosen to absorb the price increases ourselves and not pass them on to our customers. But the extreme nature of the cost increases has made it untenable for us to continue to do so." ''