"more expensive interest payments will get pushed onto consumers through increases in the prices of goods and services. " This is only possible if the company

"more expensive interest payments will get pushed onto consumers through increases in the prices of goods and services. " This is only possible if the company has pricing power and hasn't already raised prices to the maximum possible without losing market share and total profit already which seems unlikely. So no I don't buy that companies leave money on the table and leave prices low for some future rainy day.