Why has inflation been so persistently high in recent years?

Inflation has been high because money has become less valuable, just like your toy coins losing their shine after too many games.

Imagine you and your friends are playing a trading game with candies. At first, one candy costs one piece of candy, fair trade! But then, suddenly, everyone gets more candies at once. Now, to get one candy, you have to give two pieces. That’s like inflation, when things cost more because there's more money (or more candies) around.

In real life, governments and banks can create more money, just like a parent might hand out extra candies. When there's too much money going around, people start spending it faster, and businesses raise prices to keep up, that’s why things cost more now than before.

Also, sometimes supplies are lower than the demand, like if a storm knocks down the candy factory, but everyone still wants candies. That makes them more expensive, too!

So, when there's lots of money around and not enough stuff to buy, prices go up, that’s why inflation has stayed high for so long!