Lawmakers fear growing power of cartel-like blocs amid high inflation

Powerful industrial blocs or cartels are increasingly drawing the attention — and in some cases the ire — of lawmakers who blame them in part for rising inflation.

With sputtering supply chains driving inflation to 40-year highs, market forces of all sorts are coming under the scrutiny of both legislators and regulators. A recurring theme is the power held by a few big companies in many different industries.