I think a couple of things are play here

1. corporate consolodation - the only promise of capitalism is that competition lowers prices. Competition is at an all time low.

2. economics and the fallacy of unlimited growth. We live on a finite size planet, and every company is acting as though it expects 10% growth to increase forever. If demand increases and supplies dwindle thats one large prevailing force that would mask as inflation.

The establishment and universities are failing us as they refuse to critically study and address these major conceptual issues.

> the only promise of capitalism is that competition lowers prices.

The only promise of capitalism is that you are allowed to own capital. Competition and prices come from markets, not capitalism.