Why Do Inflation Rates Fluctuate So Much?

Inflation is like a rising tide, it makes things cost more over time. Sometimes the tide goes up fast, sometimes it rises slowly. Inflation rates fluctuate because people buy different things at different times, and the money supply changes with government actions. Imagine if your favorite candy suddenly costs twice as much, that's inflation in action. When lots of things become expensive quickly, inflation rates go high. When prices stabilize or even drop, inflation rates decrease.