Market manipulations by an elite powerful coordinated FEW... who have privatized our public officials and made America 19th, behind even China (Hong Kong) on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. Production facilites going off-line for "maintenance/repairs", supplies regulated, coordinated. It's obvious what's going on out there. That's the problem with too few competitors, not enough Trust Busting, no anti-trust enforcement, Cartels, oligopolies, mergers, consolidation, buying up competitiors, competitiors "coordinating" efforts at jacking prices, capitalism going full on greed running amuck.
Safeguards & steep penalties, along with stiff jail time, piercing corporate shells instead of simply punishing shareholders with fines. Cartels, "taking power production facilities or refinery's "OFF-LINE" " Where's the out-cry in congress? Muted, because they are all pretty much privatized public officials on retainers of industries and corporations... with voters split along tribal lines, instead of uniformally united against corruption. Voter education of what/who they endorsed by time-lining votes and following enactments or no enforcement. Heavy lifting by investigative journalism and changing the narrative. And ending the privatiatzation of OUR public officals would do wonders on this front.

Now I love sports. Everything depends on wages. If we the United States & the world could lower wages by de-valuing everything we could balance the budget. The problems somewhat started with professional athletes, when you make millions just to play a game it would seem that all our priories are not in the right place. When owners or companies have to pay higher salaries that means that everything down the line will go up. Now when all the food, cloths, and household item go up people wages needs to go up and the cycle starts all over again. It is a shame that athletes are allowed to make so much money to play a game and the rest of us (especially teacher) that make the world work gets shorted. If we don't do something it will only get worse, then even the middle class won't be able to afford even the basic, because of cost.