I think the OP's point is that as prices aren't dropping and the comparisons are with this time last year before the fuel price spike, a year of "8-9% YoY inflation" headlines is prices having risen 8-9% once, not some compounding effect. Which doesn't mean central bankers wouldn't be happier if the rate was 0.3 points below expectations rather than 0.3 points above it, but the June YoY figure being way ahead of the 2% we used to see reflects stuff that happened earlier in the year, not a spiral that needs addressing asap.

If the YoY figure was around 2% in June, that wouldn't imply a reversion to normal economic conditions, it would imply stores had run round slashing prices.

A return to 2% YOY inflation would be awesome beyond belief. the damage would be done, but the market would probably recovery fast, like in the 80s when inflation fell from the peak in 1979-1980.

Prices are dropping or being moved around.

For example - amazon goods - prices haven't really changed much but its so affordable to buy at amazon because of the negligible shipping. 5 years ago it would have cost you $150 bucks to same day/overnight a package. Today i can order batteries, dog food and cleaning supplies and have it show up by 3pm. So pricing has "changed" if you ask me - you don't get the cheapest goods compared to other stores but the overall price is low because it shows up to my front door super quick and saves me time/money in other places.

Beyond that - i'm seeing pricing settle. I build lifepo batteries, prices were way up but coming down. Construction goods are trending down. Lumber is up and down variable on supply but coming down.

Dining out prices have gone through the roof though... just had a terrible meal the other day and for crappy food it was 48 bucks for 2 people. So I'm just gonna cut out dining out unless i know i'm paying for premium. I'd rather spend 150 bucks for a meal i'll never forgot that is a 3 hour experience than 50 bucks for something thrown in a microwave and slapped on the table. So there is the value vs reward thing to think of here..

but other things - 3d printing is cheap, hobbies are cheap... cars? expensive, I invested in an EV bcause electricity is cheap and speaking of electricity Solar and home battery systems are so cheap now compared to before that i offset some costs of cooling by just buying new AC, new efficient appliances and using new panels.

what prices are you seeing stay up? even fuel is below 4 bucks a gallon and struggling to stay up