My personal theory is that Layonara is slowly progressing into (or, from another perspective, for the first time post-cataclysm, BACK into) a higher magic world. Magical items are becoming more common, some to the point of ubiquitousness. While some of the more rare/useful items still command a high price, and market controls have maintained the prices of certain items, others, generally 'found' items, are dropping rapidly in price as they become more common.
There's a fairly logical IC explanation for this - the Dragoncalling brought together a large number of arcanists, and more generally, adventurers. The Blood War inspired many of the most talented of their crafters to create powerful weapons to help the war movement. Since the Bloodfall, these finely-crafted weapons and items have if anything been improved upon, and the traditions of magical crafting have continued, but without the great big war going on to distract people.
Just a theory, at least... but that seems to be the direction we're headed in.
