Inflation is a general rise in prices due to a decline in the purchasing power of money. The root primary cause of inflation is governments creating and circulating more money than needed by their nations' economies. Governments engage in inflationary policies to effectively tax citizens at higher rates and to default on national debts caused by government spending. Regulations can also have inflationary effects because they commonly ban people from using economical products and processes. Contrary to these facts, President Biden and his allies have blamed inflation on corporate greed and singled out retailers as the culprits. However, the prices paid by retailers have grown by more than the prices they charge consumers throughout Biden's tenure. Free market competition generally prevents corporations from causing inflation since businesses that fleece customers lose them to their competitors.