Yes, economic indices and indicators are regularly tweaked for political purposes, making it nearly impossible to compare figures across long stretches of time. I read recently that the “Foodstuffs Index” (or something like that, measuring only the cost of common foods) is up something like 43% or 47% over the past year or two. This certainly comports with what I’ve seen at my local grocery store. And now even Walmart’s prices are up sharply. There has to’ve been some serious fiddling to come up with a number like 7.3%.
And with Govt limiting water supply, the cost of fertilizer skyrocketing along with all input costs, it’s not getting better for a long time.
I will admit I shop there frequently, to save my wallet from wholesale hemorrhaging. The prices at the regular supermarkets are obscene. A 12-oz package of bologna for almost five bucks, a box of cereal for $6, and don't even ask about the cost of meat.