http://www.meritline.com/newsearch.aspx?SearchTerm=panasonic+18650
I have used Meritline over the years as an odds and end type store. Always gave me decent service. Sort of floored today when I saw they were charging up to $38 each for new Panasonic 18650 batteries. Wow - that really becomes an investment at that price. Prices seem in line for their other lesser brands.
It's probably just their way of saying they don't want to sell them right now. Instead of artificially removing it from their inventory, they can just jack up the price.
Many of the chinese companies have had a lot of trouble shipping lithium batteries to the USA - so many are being forced to use premium shipping services.
I hope you know this, but there are numerous better companies out of the USA that will get the batteries to you in days, not weeks.
http://mtnelectronics.com/opencart/
http://www.e2fieldgear.com/
http://goinggear.com/flashlights/batteries
I highly recommend MTN electronics.