Memory crunch sends PC prices into double-digit climb

PC prices in Europe have jumped by double-digit percentages as a memory crunch tightens supply. Average notebook prices rose 11.4 percent year-on-year and desktop prices climbed 10.5 percent through European distribution, according to analyst firm Context. The cost of memory has more than quadrupled in the past 12 months. All PC makers face shortages of DRAM and NAND because component manufacturers prioritize production of higher-margin high-bandwidth memory chips for AI servers. The price increases reflect the broader shift of memory supply toward AI infrastructure at the expense of traditional PC hardware.