I am user/collector, engineer and manufacturer.... a moment please!
1/ No manufacturer can "price gouge"
Competirion, economy supply, demand determine a market price.
Logistics, shortages, increased costs of labor, land, materials and regulations,
Fed Exand UP raise prices every new years 5..10%
2/ the "inflation" and enormous increases are due to
a/ No stable unit of account since 1971 in US and similar in UK, EU, all the currencies are fiat.
b/ Government central banks control interest rates and must inflate and debase currencies to finance their enormous debts.
3/ Supply and demand...old great classics vintage HP/TEK/Fluke are getting scarce...the price rises.
What did you hose cost 10..30 years back vs value today?
Just my thoughts!
Jon