....Why are so few sellers unwilling to acknowledge the effect that the current "cost of living crisis" is having on sales, particularly on sales of non-essential items?.......

The cost of living is obviously having an affect but there is also a 'very significant' change in the ebay algorithm and how it's affecting visibility in searches. We've had many cost of living crisis's in the past, recessions, credit crunches etc but I never known such a severe drop in viewings and watchers over the past few months