We will be seeing US$4/gallon petroleum soon because of a shortage of truck drivers, and also "Big Oil" is jacking up the prices for the summer. Now do note that corn is going to be a key indicator too as ethanol from there is used to make gas burn better, and that price is going to go up as well.
To stay on the topic of corn, it is not really the ones we eat that is going to be affected, it is the other uses of corn which will affect the price of meat as it is used as feed for beef, chicken, turkey and many others. Corn is also for housing materials, make-up, and unbelievably-if you like to get stoned, you will see whiskey shoot up in price as that liqueur is indirectly derived from corn. It will worry some of you that are fursuit makers as corn is used to make plastic from the ethane properties it has and it will help make polymers for the faux fur; so do not be surprised that soon, if you are in interest in being a fursuiter, the constructor will inflate the prices. Artists who are traditional, you are in trouble too as the crayon industry is going to feel the pinch- corn's properties are used to make the wax in it and help make the pigments livelier. Sure, you can go for marker or colored pencil, but keep in mind that the plastic to make you hold those art supplies are going to make costs go up in unimaginable ways. If you want more info on other uses of corn, see this site: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ed.....n-used-for.htm

Yes, as things are starting to get back to normal as COVID is getting weaker and trying its best to do its worst to animals (this includes humans), the things we use everyday are going be more expensive than we expect from the usual inflation rates. We will be happy to live freely again, but there will be a cost-and we have to ask, WHAT? As things are interconnected, the standard of living is going to be more difficult than before COVID and even during. Many are trying to make amends and things meet as last year when there were some months of stay-at-home mandates and up until now, limited capacities in businesses, profits are minimal or none, or even negative. We are seeing many small businesses close unfortunately, and though they can get eaten up by the bigger ones, they do lose as well as they get no awareness on what should be priced from MANY businesses, and our selections for our goods and services are dwindling. It is a fact that there is no mass multinational company doing fursuits, but if that existed during COVID, then it would be a disaster for a huge amount of constructors as the competition can make many go bankrupt and cease operations. With the raw materials rising, and for the goods and services that the constructor and artist will have to face outside of their work, it is going to be a rough life for them if s/he does not raise the price to something that makes sense. If it was the multinational fursuit company doing so, it would eventually be a monopoly if there are no others meeting their standards, and the consumer will lose as well as the price is set by the company.

It is going to be hard not just for the USA, but abroad as well as trade is affected. There is already the soybean dilemma from Brazil and other countries, but to now add corn, the trade costs will be brought to the consumer soon. Let's not forget in many places, the drought situation-for California, it has come early, and the fruits, veggies, water, grains and even the meats and milk/dairy will be affected in the state. So let this be a fair warning, as prices are going up and resources are getting MORE restrictive, you will have to make your sacrifices ASAP-try to buy what you need, but look at ways to scale down as well. It will be a very challenging year after COVID, and you will have to keep saving and investing so later if prices go down (It can be a pipe dream...), you will not go to the bank to apply for a loan to make big, but necessary purchases (e.g., your house).
So furries, I know you like your arts and fursuits, but you will have to wait until your have enough in your bank to get it. It will be hard for the constructors and artists, but they and you will have to understand that your needs come first and that costs in RL are making living harder everywhere and in every aspect of life.