Wage hike passed to consumers

Many Colorado employers are getting hit in the pocketbook by a new minimum wage law that went into effect Jan. 1, but the ultimate impact is being passed along to consumers of goods and services.

The state’s minimum wage remained unchanged for nine years at $5.15 per hour, matching the federal level, until November, when voters narrowly approved an amendment to the constitution to raise the hourly rate to $6.85, one of the highest in the nation.

With the federal minimum wage likely to soon be raised from $5.15 to $7.25 over the next two years, Colorado’s jump would not be a…