It isn't just quilt shops. I think the economy has something to do with it of course. For pete's sake everything from food, gas, medical is going up up up. But internet sales have a lot to do with it too.
A quilt shop near here came up with a brilliant idea to bring in business, in my opinion. They started monthly "clubs." For instance, a Civil War one, a Crazy Quilt one, an Applique one, a Modern one. I go to the Piecing one. There are usually around 30 gals. We work out of the same book for the whole year. After Club, there's a beeline out to the shop because everyone gets inspired! Of course this probably works because the shop (in a smaller town) is located close to a larger city.