As several prior commentors have pointed out the price of copper has gone up along with lead and steel, remember also that copper is not just used in bullet jackets but in making the brass case. A blog I use to read was writen by a man who's day job was selling mining equipment over a year ago he had more business then he could handle. He mentioned that it costs a $1 to get copper out of the ground to a useable state. It has been holding steady for a while now at over $4 a pound. The huge inferstructue build up in China and India coupled with continued world wide demand for electronics and cell phones, lots of copper and lead in cell phones, mp3 players, computers and cell towers you know.
All this has made the last two year "interesting". Both of the last two years have seen an average of 4 price increases, the last one from Remington, Federal and Winchester was 20%. It has already been intimated that there will be another 20% increase come Jan. 1.
Last year it was 7.62X39 that was functional non-existant. Wolf was the major player here, and is now shipping on a some what more regular basis on 7.62X39. Of course the price increase have blunted demand some what, along with fewer cheap-cheap guns that shot 7.62X39. Of course a little dust up over around the gulf of arabia along with Mr. Chavez arming up his privete SA, didn't help.
This year it has been 5.56/.223. Federal has cut off everybody but the goverment, and LEO's from American Eagle. As has Winchester. Varment bullet loads are still available, but 55 & 62gr ball is sparce. Here some of the smaller players are picking up with Fiocchi and Magtech starting to get some product into the pipeline, but very slowly.
In addtion to all the US production at Lake City, Winchester, Federal plants, the US has purchased 100's of millions of rounds from Israel and Taiwan. The training for troops headed for the sandbox has included much more extensive action drills, and not just for infantry, but MP's, truck drivers, and other folks who might have call to be outside the wire of an FOB.
I have been told not to expect much change next year. In addition just to stir the pot, one source has told me they are having problems keeping up with .40S&W! I seem to recall that not only do a large number of US LEO's use the .40S&W but so do the Iraq police. In addition the US has bought a large amount of pistol, (.40?), rifle (5.56 & 7.62X39), and shotgun ammo for the Iraq police and military. And I haven't even mentioned the privete contractors.
As to shortage of 9MM or .45ACP, I have seen some spot shortages here and there in different brands and bullet weights, but nothing like last years 7.62X39 or this years 5.56.
Earlier this year I took a wingshooting class and spoke with several people who have stopped reloading their own shells except for 28ga and .410 because the price of lead,
On a positive note, Corbon is finally found a supplier for .300 Whisper, 6.8 is holding OK and .204 Ruger is doing well. I suggest you talk to DPMS or Bushmaster about a new upper ; )