Chef Sam Young owns and runs two successful restaurants in inner Sydney, S’more and Young’s Palace, but times are getting tougher as the economic ramifications of the Middle East war materialise for him and his customers.
His suppliers are all adding a small surcharge to cover the increased cost of fuel for transport, but it’s no match for the demand drop, as consumers rein in their spending on extras like dining out, thanks to a second interest rate hike and inflation outside the Reserve Bank’s target band.