Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools' ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday.

Higher employee pay will be key to running Wake schools smoothly, superintendent says

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks to the League fo Women Voters of Wake County, April 18, 2024

Compared to pre-pandemic prices, ground beef is up 35%, chips are up 45%, bread is up 57% and a 12-ounce can of soda is up 66%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks trends on common grocery store items.

WRAL Investigates: 'Greedflation' and other drivers behind inflation at the grocery store

A look at inflation at the grocery store

Candace Combs in a room at the In-Symmetry Spa in San Francisco, which she runs with her brother, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. A paycheck protection loan helped keep the business afloat early in the pandemic, but the money is long gone. (Jamie Cotten/The New York Times)

Small-Business Failures Loom as Federal Aid Dries Up