Amazon's profit nearly doubles as company raises Prime fees to cover costs

The company also said it would raise the price of itspopular Prime membership.

That narrowly missed the $137.6 billion average that analysts had expected,according to Yahoo.

Still, earnings per share almost doubled to $27.75 and trounced analysts expectations of $3.48.

One way Amazon will address the growing cost of labor and logistics is by raisingAmazon Primemembership.

As a result, it’s offering workers increased starting wages and hiring bonuses.

Amazon faces challenges from workers.

Aunion vote kicks offon Friday for workers at a warehouse in Alabama.

Warehouseworkers in New Yorkare also trying to unionize.

The company hasn’t been able to hire as aggressively as it planned.

It had set a target of 150,000 new US workers in the fourth quarter but fell 10,000 shy.

“We can hire well,” Olsavsky said.

“We just have to get everyone healthy.”