I wanted to add that someone who has been on a craft tour to Bali said that you could get batiks there for about $2.50/yard. If you can get $2.50/yard as an individual consumer, then why are they so expensive in the shops in the USA or elsewhere? And don't tell me that it takes an additional $10/yard to bring it to the USA on a boat. I don't believe it.
I was able to buy batiks cheaper in Kenya, Africa than in the USA. I am convinced it is just that they figure that is what people will pay. People will complain for a while, while the shop owners smile and say, "Sorry, but our prices have gone up" and eventually people get used to it, and then fork over the money.
Someone said that they have overhead, etc. All shops have overhead, storage, etc. Even "just" on line shop. I think, though, am not sure, that the markup on fabric must be about 3x the wholesale price, so that they can have 50% off sales and still make money.
Once when we were first here in Poland, I noticed that they sold Levi jeans for close to $100/pair when you could (at that time) walk into any Levi jeans store in the USA and pay about $40 retail--no sale, etc. It is just what they figured people will pay--there was no effort to make them available cheaper for the average folks. They just keep the price high and make Levis a "luxury" brand. I think that there is a similar mentality with many quilt shops. I understand people have to make money or they go out of business, but I am not sure that they care that it is difficuilt for the average consumer who is being hit with increases on every hand--health insurance, gasoline, groceries, etc. They just shrug, and say, "That's life." In a way, they are right, but they are leaving room for businesses who want to bring better prices/sales, etc.
Today I bought a bunch of fabric at Hancock's of Paducah for 2.99/yard with $20 off of $100 - that's 20% off if you keep your total close to $100. I figured that made the fabric in the ballpark of $2.40/yard. I was pleased. The sale goes through the 9th.