People are hoarding the 22lr because its cheaper than buying up the centerfire. Plus anyone can still put meat on the table with a 22cal.
For the best average mail order prices go to;
gun-deals.com - User-Submitted Gun & Ammunition Deals and click on ammo-deals then on 22lr. The average prices on 5,000rds of 22lr was about $199 at ontime. I went with the CCI blazer 22lr ammo mainly because some of the other 22cal ammo has misfires.
I've seen the shoppers at wally world buying up bricks of 22lr as many as they could carry. When they had it in stock.