How are they unjustified? In my world, our costs have gone up over 50%.
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/3715725-rising-profits-ar....
Of course prices have gone up, but some businesses are using this as an excuse to raise prices more than is needed to make up for their inputs, leading to record profits, which are undeniable. Fed chair Powell stated in a Senate hearing that some companies are doing this "because they can". This is a hotly debated (political) topic though because of course companies don't want to be seen as exacerbating inflation, but there's plenty read if you search around.
Here is the most unlikely citation you'll ever see me post on Hacker News. On FOX News no less, bizarrely hosting an op-ed by Bernie Sanders! But this is the key graf:
> According to a recent study, nearly 54% of the rise in inflation is directly attributable to the astronomical increase in corporate profit margins. In America today, while the working class struggles to put food on the table, fill up their gas tanks and heat their homes, corporate profits are at a 70-year-high.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/our-economic-crisis-isnt-inf...
The next several paragraphs are then specific examples: oil industry, airlines, agribusiness, with examples of their profit margins increasing significantly.
now, "a recent study", blah blah where are the numbers etc., sure. However, that's the argument, take it or leave it. Bernie tends to be pretty accurate when he cites stats.
In other words, he likely wants to spend less time "preaching to the choir".
People complain that "both parties are the same". This is mostly overstated, but it is very true when it comes to neo-liberalism and pro-captial. I think Bernie is trying to reach out to the swing voters who are sick of that.