Why Memory Prices Are Rising in 2026 and What It Means for IT Planning

January 8, 2026

Memory pricing is heading up again, and this time it’s not a temporary swing. Industry analysis for 2026 shows sustained increases in RAM and flash memory costs, driven by a structural shift in how memory is being manufactured and allocated.

The short version: AI is reshaping the memory market, and everyone else is competing for what’s left.

What’s Driving the Shortage

Major memory manufacturers are redirecting production toward High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM). HBM is essential for AI data centers and delivers far higher margins than standard DRAM or NAND.

As capacity shifts toward HBM, supply for consumer and enterprise memory shrinks. Building new fabrication plants takes years and billions of dollars, so relief isn’t coming quickly. Most analysts don’t expect meaningful new capacity before late 2027 or 2028.

NAND flash is affected as well, putting additional pressure on SSD and storage pricing.

What to Expect in 2026

  • Rising prices and lead times: DRAM contract prices are forecast to rise sharply through 2026, with some projections calling for increases of up to 50 percent early in the year. Prices are expected to peak mid-to-late 2026 and remain elevated into 2027 and beyond.
  • Higher device costs: PC and laptop prices are expected to climb as component costs are passed through. Some of our partners have already notified us of potential increases. 
  • DDR4 scarcity: DDR4 production has been cut significantly, making it harder to source and, in some cases, more expensive than DDR5. For new builds, DDR5 offers better long-term availability.

What This Means for Businesses

If your organization is planning system refreshes or memory upgrades in 2026, waiting may increase costs and lead times. Analysts are generally recommending to purchase earlier where possible, especially for projects that can't be delayed. 

Carrier Access IT can help you plan ahead and source hardware intelligently, reducing risk from supply shortages while keeping performance and budget priorities in balance.

 

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