You posted "... The price of goods and services reflects the value that people are 'willing to pay' for those goods and services."

Would it be more realistic to say "have to pay"? They don't have much choice, especially with essentials like food, fuel, electricity, gas, housing, insurance, transportation, health care and non-negotiable items like taxes. These costs and price increases are forced upon them by the market.

I am not "willing" to pay a 37.5% increase in property tax. I have to pay it. I am not willing to pay a huge increase in gasoline price. I have to pay it.