Hey.....you are still very lucky.....like here in Australia for the imported US material which is 100% made in the US & which is pre-shrunk & pre-dyed....& its the fabrics by Moda, Thimbleberries, Kaufman, Andover & some others made in Texas....sit down now - & don't faint....top of the range & depending which store - $49.95 a yeard.......!!!! We pay for the shipping & the middle man...ie reps displaying etc & overheads of the store factoring the cost....plus wages of staff is all built into the price that we pay for those fabrics listed......& some are as high as $79.95 a yard!!!
And those named materials are the only ones I buy....but of course whenst I come to visit the relatives twice a year....then like blimey I do buy up big there.
Cheers..moggie (Australian lone quilter)