General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: According to CNN the economy is tanking [View all]angrychair
(8,874 posts)In theory, at it most simple explanation, its corporations raising prices because of increase costs related to labor and/or raw materials. Either due to demand exceeding supply or increase costs because of the availability of raw materials.
That is not what is happening. Not to any significant extent that prices should be increasing across all business sectors.
Also if prices have gone up to offset increases in supply demands of other expenses, profits would remain largely flat or companies financials would be a little worse than previous quarters because inflation is a lagging indicator. That is not happening.
Corporations are reporting record profits, repeatedly, quarter after quarter. Some have reported the largest quarterly profits in their history. Corporate stock buybacks are being done at a record pace. Corporations, collectively, have built up the largest cash reserves in US history.
None of this is the sign of an inflationary economy. Its is a sign that corporations are screwing the consumer and price gouging for profit. This is not just my opinion but the opinion of noted economists like Robert Reich.
We are being played.