Jefferies: memory prices could jump up to 50% in Q3 2026
AI data‑centre demand is squeezing RAM and SSD supplies, and Jefferies forecasts steep price rises through 2027 with only a modest recovery in 2028.
Jefferies Equity Research warns memory prices will rise sharply as AI data centres soak up available stock. Reported by Wccftech, Jefferies predicts RAM and SSD prices could climb 40–50% in Q3 2026, another 30–40% in Q4, and 40–45% year‑on‑year in 2027, with only a 15–20% recovery expected in 2028 as production increases. Former Samsung boss Kyung‑Hyeon Kye had hoped expanded Chinese manufacturing would ease the shortage, but Chinese memory doesn’t appear to be cheaper. The squeeze has already hit PC builders and anyone shopping for new machines, and Apple has announced hundreds‑of‑dollars price increases for iPads and MacBooks, with iPhones likely to follow. Whether the industry will see a lasting correction remains uncertain — especially after OpenAI’s reported $38.53 billion loss in 2025.
