According to TechFlow TechFlow, on June 14, as the artificial intelligence industry continues to expand, the market for technology products, which has long been characterized by "prices only falling and not rising," may be undergoing changes.
Data shows that in May, U.S. consumer prices for computer software and accessories rose 14.5% year-on-year, marking the largest annual increase since records began in 2000; during the same period, producer prices for electronic components rose 27% year-on-year, also setting a new record.
It is worth noting that prior to 2026, the prices of software and electronic components had been declining for most years since 2000, but the current rapid growth in demand for AI computing power is changing this pattern.
The memory market saw particularly significant price increases. Data shows that DDR5 and DDR4 memory prices rose by approximately 290% year-on-year, more than doubling within a year. Market analysts believe that the construction of AI data centers has consumed a large amount of global chip and storage resources, leading to a tightening supply of related products.
Industry experts believe that as global investment in AI infrastructure continues to increase, the tight supply chain for memory and semiconductors may persist until 2027, and may support inflation along with factors such as geopolitical risks.
Market analysts say the AI wave is not only reshaping the technology industry structure, but may also become a major force driving a new round of technology inflation, ending the trend of continuous decline in technology product prices over the past two decades.
