Inflation was always something to be be avoided in the West and central banks from London to Washington to Tokyo did whatever was necessary to avoid experiencing rapid price increases. Americans looked back at the late 70s and early 80s as a period of inflationary pressures that should never be experienced again and regulators tried to make sure it never was. Then the pandemic hit and everything seems to have changed with supply chain disruptions to personnel shortages affecting every aspect of life across the globe which is leading to inflation that can potentially topple governments.