Overview
- Retail RAM prices have climbed about 50% in recent days, with some high-end modules more than doubling, according to Franceinfo’s interviews with market watchers.
- Memory manufacturers are shifting production toward AI and data‑center customers who pay higher prices, reducing availability for PCs, smartphones, and game consoles.
- For now the surge is concentrated in components sold at retail, and similar pressure is building on storage parts such as SSDs.
- Analysts caution that tighter supply raises the risk of shortages and that higher device prices or lower specifications could start appearing for consumers from May 2026.
- TF1 Info reports tightening supply in Asia and cites forecasts that strained conditions could last two to three years, potentially keeping prices elevated.