cell price went up by $.90, pack by $5.40
That's why I said, If All Else Is Equal. If there is an investment in the cells, then add the interest costs to the $5.40 . The dollars to process the cells stay the same whether you are matching $3 cells or $4 cells, right?
Everyone says that competition reduces the price of batteries. How come batteries are still at the $60 price for a team pack (the same as the last 10 years,) when everyone was saying that the raw IB cells were cheaper? Answer -> higher profit for matchers, because using more expensive cells would eat at the profits, and raising the price of packs would decrease sales (probably not the high end packs, but the mainstream packs.)
Sub-C cells were used in power tools and other devices, which is where the market came from. The r/c percentage of sub-c cells compared to power tools was minimal. If the price went up by 90 cents, I am sure it reflects the increasing cost of raw materials (nickel for example,) and not a whim by GP to alienate the power tool industry.