Dumb? You mean like your comment. So I guess the Japs and Philippines got raises.
I work for a large manufacturer and we have the same problem... it's a global problem right now. There are shortages of raw materials (metals, plastics, silicon, etc.), there are shortages of manufacturing labor (people keep getting sick with covid19), additional costs for PPE and international shipping is totally f'ed and prices are through the roof.
We have had vendors raising prices for the last year constantly... IF we can even get the components we need!
All of those things increase the COST of the scope (in this scenario)... in order to make the same profits they were before, they have to raise prices. This is happening at every step in the supply chain... and you are the end consumer...everything gets passed onto you... and I forgot the tariffs trump added are still in play, so anything coming from China, you can just tack that onto the cost of the product also.
At some point in order for vortex to be able to pay their bills and pay their employees, they have to raise prices... it's that simple... Businesses aren't being greedy, they are just trying to stay in business... it's simply rising costs due to supply/demand, inflation, etc.
The LAST thing companies are going to want to do during this time is hand out wages, because that increases overhead, which means they have to raise prices even MORE.... wages are going to lag way behind and will take a long time to catch up if this continues to be the norm.