EXPENSIVE TORCH FLOWERS

The price of one stalk of torch flower nowadays is as high as RM3.40.  A couple of months ago, I paid RM1 for 3 stalks.  Why is this so?  I was told by the lady at the market that when the durian and mangosteen are in season, the yield of the torch flower of bunga kantan will be very low.
For those who might not know, the torch flower is an ingredient used to cook Assam Laksa in Malaysia.