That 18% is a lie or a general average. Like I posted a few days ago we ate at Taco Bell’s for the first time since 2020 ( my kids like to eat at mex places so no reason to go to Taco Bell). And I think the prices are almost 100% higher now.
Ex their reg tacos now like $2.39 used to be about a buck.
The lie is in the makeup of the index. Optional things are even cheaper on a lot of items as people are cutting back but things such as food, energy etc are well above this 18% smokescreen.
So the rich benefit and the struggling middle class gets it in the neck.