Increases in prices is just another way of saying decreases in the value of money. If you look at it another way this also means the value of a dollar as measured by gas has fallen from one gallon to a half a gallon. There are special circumstances governing gasoline right now. However, if there is too much money this phenomenon of declining money value or inflation occurs everywhere. Rents, airfares, wages, clothes, you name it.
Inflation can destroy confidence and ruin an economy.
If the bubble gum company can not get its inventory, it will have nothing to sell and will be forced to layoff workers. This ripples on to the ingredient company. If the Internet CEO can not build, she does not hire carpenters and plumbers. This results in a recession. Recession can destroy confidence and ruin an economy.