If we had high persistent inflation, we would expect long term, consistent increases in prices. This is compared to "normal" persistent inflation, which we typically target around 3%. This target is set by the Fed.
If we wanted, we could target 10% inflation on a persistent basis by using monetary policy that was deliberately inflationary.
The argument being made by the government and by the media is that our current inflation (40% for cars, etc) that weighs out to 7.5% is the result of a supply/demand shock, and which must be resolved by working out these short term market inefficiencies/failures.
There are real arguments for monetary inflation (especially wrt asset inflation), but the fact that cars are up 40% and housing vacancy rates are so low and our supply chain is so backed up makes a very tangible case for us being in a transitory period of inflation which can not be dramatically improved by monetary or fiscal policy.