So if the cost of everything they purchase is higher....and they are just passing those higher costs on to the consumer....then it should reflect typical profit margins, not record profits unless they are just screwing the consumers because they can. That's not inflation.... that's corporate greed.
And your rationale about opening new stores is asinine and shows how ignorant you are about businesses and profit margins.
Opening a new store is a black hole of initial costs. Land acquisition, zoning, permits, EPA, building costs, labor costs, electrical/gas/sewer hookups, route logistics, etc are mind bogglingly expensive. Those new stores don't turn a profit for quite a while after initial opening.
Btw...profits are monies made ABOVE monies spent. Showing record profits like I cited is doing exactly that regardless of inflation. These companies are making more than ever.
You. Are. Clueless.