What Is "The True Cause" Of Inflation?

The ever-shrinking United States Dollar.

As bad as the United States Dollar looked in the year 2000, as compared to 1774, the last ten years has thinned it to a very thin sliver of its former glory. In fact, it now takes a great number of dollars - in order to [merely] feed one's self for the month! But, how did this situation ultimately come about?  Is it merely: "Supply and Demand Working Itself Out In The Free Markets" - as we've been [so frequently] told... or, is there just a little bit more to it? What is "The True Cause" Of Inflation?

 For decades Americans have been taught that Inflation is simply the natural result of: Shortages In Productive Supply, in relation to, Increased Consumer Demand. When Consumer Demand outstrips Productive Supply, then the pricing will move higher to properly balance these two competing economic forces! This much is factually true. However, such Causative Shortages are merely short term aberrations in the markets, since these higher prices soon bring about an increase in New Productive Capacities. Consequently, consumer pricing will eventually return to its previously expected economic levels. The only exception to this rule, honestly being, a Genuine Raw Material Shortage - which is very seldom [honestly] the case.