i agree that the price went up because materials cost went up. i also think a contributing factor was the panic that went along with a president-elect that favors a 500 % tax on firearms and ammunition.

http://ammunitionaccountability.org/Legislation.htm

Remember how Obama said that he wasn't going to take your guns?
Well, it seems that his minions and allies in the anti-gun world
have no problem with taking your ammo!



The bill that is being pushed in 18 states (including Illinois and
Indiana) requires all ammunition to be encoded by the
manufacture, a data base of all ammunition sales. So they will
know how much you buy and what calibers. Nobody can sell any
ammunition after June 30, 2009 unless the ammunition is coded.

Any privately held uncoded ammunition must be destroyed by July
1, 2011. (Including hand-loaded ammo.) They will also charge a
.05 cent tax on every round so every box of ammo you buy will go
up at least $2.50 or more! If they can deprive you of ammo they
do not need to take your gun!

Please give this the widest distribution possible and contact
your Reps!