Prices rise due to the fiat system, and the a negative component of that is the stock market. Share holders want their money and they want a profit otherwise why invest? In consideration of many investors moving their money onto prospective financial technology and "AI" companies, that all too often don't deliver not to mention fail to produce any actual product that goes towards our GDP, the companies that do produce products take on loans to pay their shareholders to keep them on board and not move on elsewhere which in turn those companies must then raise prices to keep producing that product and keep their shareholders satisfied. Which is why in all reality, most companies that don't hold hard money like Bitcoin will eventually go under , and all it takes is one bad move, prices too high or unsatisfied shareholders.