.22s are in short supply, but they also aren't being shot based on my observations at the range and commentary online. That means "inventory" is piling up in basements and closets and safes.
On the bright side, once everyone fills their basements with .22s, the bottom is going to drop out of the market, even if supply stays the same. Anyone holding excess inventory at that time will either start blasting expensive .22s that they paid a lot for, or if they're over-leveraged, they'll take a financial hit reselling it. Of course with inflation, that may just mean that ammo prices will flatline for a few years.
I've taken this time to sell off my stockpile of crap .22 ammo at good prices, and buy some premium ammo with the proceeds, since premium .22s haven't gone up in price that much. The only lesson here is that as with any consumable good that keeps well-stock up on it when it's cheap.
