Rating inflation

Making this thread to see if there's anyone else that suspects there's been quite a bit of rating inflation the last month or so.

A lot of the opponents I play (in rapid) have recently reached their all time high ratings, often with big increases. As have I.

Always nice to gain rating, but kinda odd when everyone seems to have gained rating lately.

Curious to hear what you guys and girls have to say on this!

Inflation? 

The rapid average rating is currently 802.

A year ago it was 878  (snapshot 2/1/21):

The amount of players however have almost doubled. And it would make sense to have new players be around 600-800 elo, lowering the average. 

Couldn't there still be rating inflation at 1500+, whilst the average rating lowers due to an explosion of new, low rated players joining?

I've seen lots of 1600+ reach record ratings too recently, I guess we're hoovering elo from the lower rated players, and conversely are not being farmed enough because top players stay away from the rapid pool.