It is supply and demand. As long as quilters are willing to pay the prices asked, they will continue to charge top dollar. If less sales are taking place because of the high price, manufacturers will drop their prices. Not only that, but if they see that other manufacturers are dropping prices to increase sales, then the price will go down across the board. Maybe if all the quilters went on a fabric strike for a couple of months, the prices of fabric would drop. Unfortunately, it might put a few small shops out of business, though.