The era of cheap helium is over–and that's already causing problems

Economics classes for the next century are going to use this as THE textbook argument against government intervention in commodity markets. The US amassed a huge stockpile of helium. But it was clear helium was no longer of strategic importance, we signed the Helium Privatization Act to sell off the reserve.

This, ironically, put the US government directly in control of a helium cartel. The US flooded the market with helium for decades at a set price. Now the reserve is mostly sold off and it's a relative "free" market. But the bubble has burst, no more artificially cheap helium, and most buyers find themselves priced out. There will be an "adjustment" in many related industries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Helium_Reserve