Markets rise and fall, and the "whys" behind that are often not so obvious.
In my "gun lifetime" prices have been all over the place.
For example, before the '94 AWB, an AR was running US$1500-1800 (in very roundish numbers). By the end of the AWB in 2004, "everyone knew" an AR was a couple grand, perhaps two-and-a-half. Retailers "knew" this as well. So, they could buy at $1200 or $1500 and have comfortable margins at sale.
By '05, AR prices were down to $800-900. Suddenly, the bottom dropped out of the market. A bunch of upside-down retailers took advantage of political events to make huge public declarations about not selling "AWs" omitted the fact that they were deeply upside down on product.
And, now, today, the "floor" for ARs is $400 to $500. Prices can drop, and precipitously. Often, you just have to be patient.
Used to be, a basement-level 1911 was going to be $800 or $900, then our Turkish and Filipino friends started offering us 1911 at $400 to $500, and without resorting to polymer.
Prices do their own thing. And, inflation often masks the changes, too.