(1) The majority of companies expected their input costs to rise so quickly increased prices to compensate, when they didn't rise as much as expected they slowly lowered prices to remain competitive. Since nearly everyone was reading the market the same way, they weren't punished for this.
(2) Companies became really greedy a few years ago, and increased prices just because they could. Recently they have been less greedy, and prices have come down.
(1) The majority of companies expected their input costs to rise so quickly increased prices to compensate, when they didn't rise as much as expected they slowly lowered prices to remain competitive. Since nearly everyone was reading the market the same way, they weren't punished for this.
(2) Companies became really greedy a few years ago, and increased prices just because they could. Recently they have been less greedy, and prices have come down.