Trans-Pacific Shipping Rates Nosedive As Demand Dries Up

The problem with price inflation is that it often makes it impossible to track the true health of consumer demand. For example, in August of this year, Walmart reported a jump in overall sales, but also a decline in profits. How is this possible? Spiking inflation in most goods means people have to pay more for the same amount of stuff they usually buy.

But, Walmart also has to deal with higher wholesale prices and declining customer purchases as people start to make cuts to their retail budgets. In other words, inflation makes it seem like sales…