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Thats a contradiction. prices were sticky until they weren't. Something changed if they can charge more in 2023 than in 2003.

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Sticky doesn’t imply permanent. They went up legitimately during the covid/supply chain debacle. They haven’t returned because prices are sticky.

The contradiction I was wasn't with sticky, but the statement that "nothing changed". It seems clear that at least one thing changed, namely consumer expectation during the debacle.

The person you were responding to was arguing that that something has changed in the world. It seems you agree and think it is consumer expectation

People are complaining, loudly, about pricing. Demand for staples is just inelastic. Every person I know who isn't making a comfortable salary (6 figs+ in California) constantly complains about having no money and taking a significant QoL hit because of CoL prices.

Complaining does nothing. Shopping behavior does. 99% of goods, even 'staples' have cheaper alternatives that people don't buy.

If they were truly inelastic, there would be no limit to prices

If they were

Prices not returning doesn't cause inflation. If prices returned that would be deflation.

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