how does inflation effect retirees?

Most retirees are on a fixed or nearly fixed income. Inflation causes prices to rise at a rate faster than their income rises (if it rises at all) and it becomes more difficult to afford even basic necessities.

It depends which end of the scale you are:

If you were a high earner you might have to give up your private jet and might have a few million less to pass on to your children;

whereas if , for instance, you were a single parent and never managed to pull out of the poverty trap, or never managed to save much, or never had a good job, or indeed any job, you will probably have to give up all your treats such as food and petrol, and concentrate on conserving your money to spend on necessities such as drink, drugs and/or second-hand computer paraphernalia, to make life tolerable - in fact you will be living in a virtual world where the only things which matter are in your head, like community spirit, laughter, bad moods, sex and avoiding death by any means open to you, and a few which are not.

I am retired and I am eating dog food, does that answer your question.

You never get a raise so you get poorer and poorer and.......