How much would beef soup bones cost?

Beef soup bones are currently (MARCH 2011) running at $2.99 per pound in the Mid West USA. This is an incredibly high price for soup bones, which traditionally should be priced at around 20 to 40 cents a pound. It is impossible to explain this pricing and my butchers and grocers are unable to either. That is the price dictated by suppliers. Unelievable! During a weekly "special" or "sale" I can get sirloin or ground Angus chuck for $2.99 a pound.