The easiest strategy when one might not have a solution to a problem or does not want to accept responsibility for it is to create an alternative narrative. For instance, a person struggling financially will blame the cost of everthing not the impulse buying or operating without a budget.
An alternative narrative to the common of why inflation exists continues to be pushed out on the campaign trail. The Harris Waltz team wants Americans to believe that price gouging is the reason why prices have skyrocketed on Americans. Price gouging is similar to raising tolls on drivers without any change in cost to justify the increased price.
The question is whether this is simply an excuse and deflection or a reasonable explaination.
The inflation that Americans faced and continue to face with the elevated prices is not caused by price gouging. That is clear and obvious because the price level across the globe is elevated. In many places, much worse than we are experiencing in the United States.
Price gouging is a problem when it actually occurs. Price gouging is typically evident when the cost of producing and selling a good or service is clearly decreasing. Yet, a company sells it above market price to consumer bases that will be compelled to purchase it from them.
But it is not what is happening here. The cost of almost everything has increased while the availability decreased. To this day, there are many inputs and direct consumer items that are still hard to get. Still many healthcare used items still hard to obtain.
Inflation was caused by the public policy put in place combined with global conflicts that impacted the global energy markets. That is simply facts. But people will try to offer misinformation when the facts do not shed them in a good light.