I have found in the course of almost 20 years, chasing prices is ultimately a fool's errand, as the price invariably and consistently always goes up and we are stuck kicking ourselves why we didn't jump a particular deal when we did. This dynamic was evident even 15 years ago when I was crying about the prices back then, as opposed to what they were years prior. Now, those prices then look amazing, and so did the prices 10 years ago, 5 years ago - heck, even 3 years ago. Add to that supply chain and and shortages - it is one of those moments in history where beggars can't be choosers. If you have an absolutely set price you are willing to pay and it is 10-15% lower than current retail, you can wait and hope for the best, accept the current reality and buy at current prices when sales go on, or try your hand at the secondary market, like the EE or other sites, where absolutely deals can be had. There was a guy this week on a competing site selling 930 rounds of .223 for $425.00. I couldn't believe it. I jumped at that but even though I was minutes in replying after he posted, I was still seventh in line and the guy sold it all to the second or third respondent. I did end up buying some 308 off him at a good price, and that's when he told me how his phone blew up at the amount of messages from people saying they will take it.
Those kinds of things come periodically but you can't really time them or predict them.
FOC did have a wicked deal at the end of 2021 on 5.56 Winchester at a price I was shocked to see at this normally high priced retail outlet. I bought a bunch there (they put limits on what I could buy) and then went to G4C and they reluctantly price matched but limited me to buying a certain amount too. But those types of retail sales are far and few between. So it depends on your appetite for waiting, your diligence in scouring the secondary market and your willingness to accept a sale based on current pricing. I think gone are the days when we can use pricing from two years ago as the benchmark. Between inflation and the supply shortages, I am doubtful prices will ever get back to pre-covid levels. History has shown that the price will continue in the opposite trajectory (hint: upwards).