[adrienthebo]

Profit maximization attempts have changed; supply chain disruptions provided an opportunity for corporations to increase their prices in unison. Prior to the pandemic there was more risk in unilateral price increases but now companies can look at pricing velocity and effectively work as a cartel without engaging in explicit conspiracy.

[megaman821]

Either people have more money to absorb these cost increases or demand for some other non-essential goods is tanking. If it wasn't the government printing a bunch of money and it ending up in people hands to buy essential things, what are the non-essential things that no one is buying anymore?