If hybrid prices are rising in the absence of redesign, improvement, etc., it's simply the law of supply and demand. With high gas prices, cars with great FE are popular. An old thread here noted that strangers are offering to buy hybrids from current owners. How many people are approaching strangers with offers to buy their SUVs these days?

The "S" in MSRP means "suggested". The dealer can charge more if he thinks the market will bear it. If you don't like it, find a more reasonable dealer or a different car.

Case in point: I bought my '05 HCH on 3/31 at a nice discount to MSRP. The next day, that dealer started charging full MSRP because demand was so high.