Matter of fact, when you do get a raise you need to ask yourself if it's truly a raise. Inflation decreases the purchasing power of your salary, so if you get a raise you might be getting what was your initial salary.
You did a fantastic job, blew all your metrics out of the park. You were herr 6/7 days a week for the whole year and did the work of 3 people. We couldnt be more proud of you. So I went to bat for you, really fought like hell, and managed to get your raise increased from 3% to 5&!!!
Just remember that I stuck my neck out for you. We've got a lot work coming in and I'll need you to pick up some of the slack. Who knows, maybe this time next year you could be a team leader and switch over to salary. It opens a lot of opportunities.
Why not just freeze prices then? I guess because you still have to purchase goods from abroad that wouldn't freeze prices? Inflation sucks and I hate it.