Please, explain why paint is now $35 to $80/Gallon?

I think it has been reformulated because of environmental rules. In addition, we don't buy paint so often as we do some other things, so the jump in price is really obvious when we do buy it! Watch for sales, you can get some great buys then. Also, check the "oops" paint for sale at the big box stores as well as paint stores. It's paint that was mixed the wrong color, or the people who ordered it never came back to pick it up. If it's a paint and color you can use, it will be a fantastic bargain.

Unfortunately, paint has gone up just like everything else. My biggest complaint is that paint quality seems to have gone down. It seems that everything takes more coats to get good coverage now....and I have been painting a loooong time. Even using the higher cost/better quality paints doesn't always insure great coverage like it used to.