The chairman of the Ohio Restaurant Association says the state's dining establishments are under a lot of pressure to raise prices.

Thom Coffman says he's going to have to do that at his Clarmont and Thom's on Grandview restaurants in the Columbus area. He says his costs are rising and he's forced to pass some of that inflation along to his customers.

The U.S. is wrestling with the worst food inflation in 17 years. The government says prices rose 4 percent last year, compared with an average 2.5 percent annual rise for the last 15 years. This year, food costs could go up by as much as 4.5 percent.

Coffman says the restaurant business used to be fun, but now you have to think about costs every step of the way.