alt Hacker NewsIf they see them. Plenty of businesses are still charging pandemic prices for all kinds of goods and simply pocketing the difference.
Cars come to mind instantly. Prices exploded in 2020/1, due to legitimate shortages, most of which have been plus or minus resolved, but the prices for new (and used!) cars never came back down.
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While the pandemic chip shortage resolved around 2024, a new chip shortage started in 2025 when the Dutch government took control of Nexperia (who are owned by China's Wingtech) and China retaliated by creating export restrictions. Honda, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and others cut production. With less inventory, manufacturers and dealers are raising prices to compensate.
Also the cost of shipping never came down and lots of cars and/or their components need to cross oceans. Plus we have a new energy crisis...
Actually the prices for new cars seem to be now lower than in 2022 where I live in Europe. Though this could be attributed as well to the competition from Chinese manufacturers.