Should jobs be a factor as well? I see a lot of job loss in small town Iowa and Nebraska. I don't live there and people there have definitely voted with their wallets.

Food plus quality price index in Japan and France look better to me despite the lack of Walmarts.

And, I read some things about price collusion of the major grocers during the pandemic that makes me concerned.

I will say, thanks for being a human and discussing this as a human. Too many bots on HN lately.