We can’t believe the prices on anything on the grocery store shelves these days. $4.00 per pound for hamburger!
Fuel cost are the reason for the price increases of all food items over the last couple of years.
I personally think they raise the prices (soda, chips, medical supplies, fast food items, etc., etc) because they can. A few cents at a time so the price gouging is under the radar unlike the gas prices that are front and center.
I think inflation is more of a cause than anything else (though we officially have none). Our tolls just doubled here in NJ; everything costs more (gold, foreign currencies, etc.) because the IOUs are weakening our dollar.