Companies and landlords can pass off their inflation losses onto the little guy, who have no recourse to pass it on to anyone else.
As a small-time landlord, retired from a regular job, an inflation protected income stream was my exact plan when I bought rentals.
Anyone in the US can do this, all that is required is to save 20% of your earnings and only go on vacations once every 10 years, adding the extra money to your other savings. I was the "little guy" for 40 years, but I clawed my way out of it.
Your "little guy" gets pay raises every year, that is how he passes it on.