Price Gouging?

[Mullanphy]

Last time I bought paint was nearly two years ago, but, now that I've started painting again and need to replenish some tubes and pans, it seems that the price of paints has skyrocketed. Could this be due to price gouging using the pandemic as an excuse or just sticker shock on my part?

 

[Artyczar]

I think it's sticker shock. I too haven't bought paint for a long time, not a bunch at once anyway, when I had a grant and got to pay no mind to the prices, but every now and again, I've bought a couple tubes here and there and have noticed how much they are--pre-Covid. I've always known, but the price keeps going up. Now I have to save for a Cadmium Red, etc. But I've paid as much as $70 a tube before, depending on the color (certain purples).