Inflation is a direct result of Federal Reserve quantitative easing (printing of more money).
Over 16 Trillion dollars of debt burden has been created in order to compensate for the reckless greed corporate side and lack of regulation on zero equity mortgages, collateralized debt obligations (CDO'S), credit default swaps (CDS) and derivatives.
While an argument can be made that TARP funds will be paid back, US consumers now find a weaker dollar at the grocery store. What has not been paid back nor considered as a result of Henry Paulson's demand of 700 Billion in TARP funds or face martial law? is the inflation that is increasing as a result of TARP funds. Wages do not increase as the dollar grows weaker. Citizens NEED this ill effect of inflation to be paid for by receivers of TARP.