1. Raising prices in the present climate would be difficult. 2. A year ago, automakers were slashing rebates and raising prices, as customers added their names to waiting lists for popular cars and trucks. 3. Chrysler is taking the other approach, already raising prices. 4. Clearly, raising prices would be a lot easier if there were fewer players on the field to mark down prices when sales turn sluggish. 5. Companies can afford to raise wages without raising prices if worker productivity -- the time, effort and cost of providing goods and services -- rises. 6. Inflation is also being contained as businesses cut production costs -- including staffing levels -- to keep from raising prices. 7. Many anti-dumping cases are settled by an agreement restricting imports and, thus, raising prices for both domestic and foreign producers. 8. Raising prices at peak hours would put pressure on airlines to reduce congestion. 9. The higher the output, the more revenue the worker brings in for his employer to pay for wage increases without raising prices. 10. This boost, also fueled by heavy corporate investment in computers, has enabled American industry to keep profits high without having to resort to raising prices. |