> Chipotle also acknowledged higher food costs that came as it responded to viral online complaints about shrinking portion sizes.

They're far from the only ones, and that's one of my top reasons for eating out so seldom. At least grocery stores have to 'fess up on the labels when their "half gallons" of ice cream shift to 56 oz. ... 48 oz. ... 40 oz. ... 36 oz. ...

I'd gladly pay it if they brought back the flavor. Their food went bland after the listeria outbreak - which is sad, because I used to love Chipotle!

They're going to have to do it again in a month and a half.

Because tightening executive pay is unthinkable.

As is reducing profits. Of which they're still making quite a lot: $375 million in the last quarter, and rising every single quarter for several years -- much faster than inflation.

They're not doing this because they're squeezed. They're not losing money. They're doing this because they think they can get it. Demand is high; people want the product.

Which is just plain capitalism. That's fine. Go ahead and say that. Don't pretend that it's some external "inflation" forcing you to do it.