Answer: 5%
Step-by-step explanation:
From the question, we are informed that John has an escalator clause in his labor contract by which his salary has to be increased automatically by the amount of the previous year's inflation rate.
If John's salary is $100,000, this year's consumer price index is 105, and the previous year's CPI was 100, the percent by which John's salary be increased will be (105 - 100) = 5%.