In my experience, only buy tickets Monday-Thursday. Friday-Sunday, tickets can/do skyrocket. Simply because Friday-Sunday is their high traffic periods.
Also, avoid major holidays. Spring Break is also a major to avoid, dodge & evade.
Other then the obvious, this is my experience.
With the cost of fuel already very high, compaired to last year. What you are seeing now is a reflection of high fuel costs. Also, all the extra add-ons. ie: Baggage, Taxes, Insurance are all forms of a hidden inflation cost.
It is a known economic fact, the airline industry in general is failing. They are simply passing on their failure onto their customers.
...travel safely!
I remain,