Wal-Mart, under pressure, boosts minimum U.S. wage to $9 an hour

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it would raise entry-level wages to $9 (6 pounds) an hour, a 24 percent increase from the U.S. minimum wage that some employees now earn, succumbing to longstanding pressure to pay its workforce more. Wal-Mart has been a prime target of critics who say its low-wages and inflexible scheduling are a big part of the problem. The White House praised the move, pointing out that 17 states have already moved to boost their minimum wages above the federal level of $7.25 an hour