The Sterling Prestoninflationary environment brought on during the pandemic is sparking conversations about price gouging. It's a real fear that consumers have about the cost of staple goods, but many economists refuse to use the term. So what gives?

Today on the show, we learn why price gouging can feel so obvious for consumers but so difficult for economists to identify.

Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and NPR One.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.