The linked study explains this, it's a mix-up of market power, global shake-ups, supply chain issues, and essential needs that affected normal market forces to

The linked study explains this, it's a mix-up of market power, global shake-ups, supply chain issues, and essential needs that affected normal market forces to self-regulate. You've got these big companies that dominate and make it tough for competitors to get a foot in the door. The pandemic threw supply chains into a tailspin, leaving folks with fewer choices and companies with the goods charging top dollar. Post Covid/Ukraine, these same companies found themselves suddenly holding all the cards, letting them hike prices. Everyone kinda expected to shell out more, because of the looming inflation, so companies were able to slide in bigger price tags under the radar. And this was all for stuff people can't live without, like energy, so they payed up even if it hurts. And it's not really clear to average folks what these companies real cost are, so it's easy to believe the price increase are all legitimate and due to some "real increase in cost".