[gruez]

>Because "oh, it's the pandemic" gave them cover for the increases.

It might work, but as far as I can tell it doesn't stick. Egg producers had the "it's bird flu excuse" about a decade ago[1]. Profits (as %) went up, but eventually fell back down a few years later[2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza#United_States_...

[2] https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/CALM/cal-maine-foo...

[nerdponx]

Right, so total profit over the time period is greater than if they didn't raise prices. It doesn't matter if it sticks forever.

See also: gas prices after hurricane Katrina.

[lo_zamoyski]

Price gouging is immoral, and supposedly, illegal in some cases. And yet...