[vikingerik]

One detail here: Up 19 percent in 2021 - remember that any number from that year is comparing to the low baseline from the pandemic shutdowns in 2020, so the real effect isn't as big as it looks from that.

To see the real numbers, look at the annualized differential between 2019 and 2023.

[paxys]

Yes the percentages are wonky because of COVID but that doesn't change the fact that the absolute, inflation-adjusted number is the highest it has ever been.