Between the stimulus checks, unemployment checks, and other such policies... as well as the Fed's continued reliance upon an expanded balance sheet (kinda sorta like QE), there's worries that the increased prices are at least partially caused by inflation.

If the inflation-dudes are right, then at least part of the price increase is permanent. That's why the calculations are necessary: because many people are making many different arguments about the future of this current economy.

The one who can predict the future will make money of course.