[digging]

I mean waste is probably a source of inflation but lots of it just comes from unrestrained profit-seeking behavior. If a company believes it can raise its prices without impacting sales, it will do that. That's why so many massive corporations posted record-breaking profits during the recent bouts of inflation.

[anoxor]

Government shutdowns that made it more difficult or impossible to shop outside of big stores or online would be as big or bigger issue here.

[digging]

It wouldn't explain simultaneous mass layoffs.