optional consumer goods may be cheaper. Necessary consumer goods are not. A cynic would say companies selling necessary goods have realized that they can pric

optional consumer goods may be cheaper. Necessary consumer goods are not. A cynic would say companies selling necessary goods have realized that they can price gouge because people don’t have a choice about paying, and then claim inflation is the reason despite that being demonstrably false. Then you have continued conglomeration of intermediaries which has meant while the consumer price has been increasing the amount going to the producers has been reducing. Almost like the “efficiencies” used to justify mergers are built on monopoly exploitation.