What's going on with the audio market?

I'm 52, started in hifi at around 18, ??.

I have been saying/feeling this for the past 3-4yrs now. Audio gear pricing has been increasing for no reason at all, other than greed by audio companies. If you want to stifle sales of anything, just raise the price and keep raising it, at some point people will stop buying.
And this is not just about the "vinyl craze", all gear has been on a price run. I have been looking at getting a new set of speakers, take for example Wharfdale Jade 7s. Came out at $4200.00 in 2013, from what I read they did not sell well and now you can get them for about $2500.00 discounted. I have seen cartridge mfg increase prices last year by 30-40%, same carts just a higher price.
I think there is an audio price bubble that is at least 20-25% over inflated...

Now there is some business going on in the super high end audio......I read a review of the new Marten Coltrane 3 speakers, $100K a pr. The owners stated that at a recent audio show they had taken orders for 7 pr, not bad for a speaker that when originally came out were priced at $50K.

Just like anything else, labor is the big % of sales prices these days, you can't tell me the Coltrane 3 has $50K worth of materials in those speakers.....

Maybe the bubble is breaking but I am not sure what is going to happen....

1-Y here. I suppose that constitutes having met my military obligation. I showed up at the physical and did everything that was asked of me. 
Fact is I was hit in the left eye by an errant rock while in high school and have had a blind eye ever since 1963. No regrets about being rejected though. 

Please excuse obviously misplaced post above. I plead senility.

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63, 47, 2

I've had a receiver-based stereo system since I was in college.  I bought my first separates at the age of 47 when I was at the apex of my earning power.  During my journey, I've certainly discovered the fact of diminishing returns in audio.  I also discovered the value of the used audio market where outstanding buys can be found.  I've got a couple of more years left in me to buy stuff.  Even then it will be an upgrade to a pre-owned item.  It's comforting to know that current new outstanding components will still sound astounding in ten years...and they will be available at great prices.

People are becoming a computer dependent digital race. It's a brain damage if you ask me, no doubt.
But there are still many who appreciate natural things including good sound. Problem is that they are losing the power of influence to counteract this degeneration tendency.
One day all this is going to blow the hell up, I guess.