The price of a 32GB DDR5 memory module rose from $94 to $282 between Q3 2025 and Q1 2026, described in the source as a 122% increase. The surge is being driven by US hyperscalers—companies operating the world’s largest data centers—including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta, whose AI infrastructure orders are consuming a substantial share of memory production. Some agreements account for up to 40% of global DRAM output. Standard DRAM (general-purpose computer memory) and HBM (high-bandwidth memory for AI accelerators) are both constrained, as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron prioritize higher-margin AI and server products over conventional chips for consumer devices. Analysts call the conditions a structural supercycle, with shortages expected to persist at least until 2028. Apple raised product prices by nearly 20% in June 2026, citing higher memory costs, while Microsoft increased Xbox prices by at least $100. The effects also extend to automobiles, medical devices and industrial equipment. Memory sales of roughly $230 billion in 2025 are forecast to surpass $1 trillion by 2027, driven largely by AI and data-center demand. Intensifying lobbying in Washington includes proposals to invoke the Defense Production Act, which allows the federal government to direct private companies to prioritize certain orders. With hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into AI infrastructure in 2026, hyperscalers are paying premiums to secure memory, even as that strategy strains supply for other industries.