A handful of states raise their minimum wage rates based on changes in inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
In Montana if there is an increase in the CPI the Department rounds the amount to the nearest 5 cents. Based on an increase in the CPI of 1.7% from August 2011 to August 2012 the calculation used for arriving at the adjusted minimum wage rate for 2013 is
$7.65 X .017% = $.13 rounded to $0.15.
Based on the above calculations — Montana’s Minimum Wage will increase by 15 cents from $7.65 to $7.80 per hour beginning January 1, 2013.