Lead is cheap and China and other countries smelt thousands of tons. Ammo manufacturers can buy the bars made elsewhere.
Lead is selling for about $2.50/lb. If you buy a couple hundred pounds it will be a little cheaper.
A pound will provide 140grain of lead for 50 bullets.
$.05 each.
I assure you that a good Nosler 165gr bullet costs MUCH more than that.
The fear-mongering and panic in the article and in this thread is absurd.
Have you bought any ammo recently and if so, how does the price compare to what you paid for the same ammo 2 years ago?