While encouraging news on the economic recovery from the pandemic is obviously a good sign, it is, unfortunately, being accompanied by increasing inflation. The lifting of pandemic restrictions and the return to business as normal, combined with federal stimulus packages, have fueled the economy. So far, so good. However, the downside of this growth is rising inflation. Prices on a wide range of goods are rapidly increasing – in addition to house prices and fuel costs – making the cost of living notably higher for most Americans. This surge in prices results from issues with supply chains, leading to shortages of essential goods, as well as labor shortages as a result of pandemic-related changes in the employment dynamic. As such, the current surge may be temporary – or it may not. Investors wishing to protect their portfolios must look at alternatives to find inflation-proof investments.