A similar thing happened with the housing market. Because there were so many two-income families beginning in the 1980s, housing prices went up because people could afford the higher prices caused by more people being able to afford houses. It seems that when more money is associated with something, the price goes up, even if the cost to make the item doesn't go up that much. I know, it seems like basic economics, but there is a bigger societal aspect to it all.