Inflation is hitting restaurants across Long Island and the nation particularly hard.

New numbers from the government show U.S. consumer inflation is up 6.8% from 2020, the highest it's been in nearly 40 years.

The owner of the family-run Infinity Diner in West Babylon says the costs for food and supplies has been steadily going up.

"We can't buy the brand that we used to buy," says Tony Skaliotis. "…The argument we have with the company is take it or leave it. Everybody blames everybody else for shortages."

Restaurant owners say raising prices to offset rising costs is a last resort because customers will only pay so much for food.

Restaurants and some other businesses are also having a tougher time finding workers due to the labor shortage.

Experts say it's important for people to support their local small business owners as they struggle.