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It's because companies had an excuse ready and people were desperate. Normally when companies jack up prices too fast people get offended and stop paying, but the pandemic left people needing for things to feel normal and they were desperate for the things they had been denied. That combined with the supply chain problems, which gave companies their first excuse, meant that people spent themselves into record amounts of household debit, but they didn't blame the higher prices on the companies.

Then as inflation increased, companies used that as an excuse too. "We have to raise prices because of inflation! It's not our fault your wages aren't keeping up!" and people believed it even as companies were making money hand over fist and pulling in record profits.