So, DRAM (and NAND used for SSDs) is actually highly price monitored commodity in investment world :- ). There are many (sadly paid) resources on this like:
https://www.dramexchange.com/But translated to more laymen explanation, here are my thoughts:
- I didn't notice any increase since November myself. On quick check, I still don't see any increase in past two weeks. Average good memory like 4x32GB 3200 CL16 is 650 Euro/Dollars. Great price. Sought after rare Samsung b-die kits are artificially overpriced.
- In December, there was already forecast of increase due to ever increasing production of cellphones...and the upcoming sourcing of parts for XBOX-SEX & PS5 ;- ). Even e-cars use dram & nand.
- DRAM is produced only by three (Cartel accused) manufacturers, so the prices increase globally and for all the ram kits. It's not possible that it will only increase in US, Europe...or only certain kinds. It either all goes up, or all goes down (it is excluded from Trump's tariffs)
- The Coronavirus crisis did stop new products entering consumer market (Enterprise already struggled sourcing parts earlier, mainly due to Intel shortages). I pre-ordered upcoming Crucial Micron Rev-E memory in November...and finally cancelled my order two weeks ago. It's not coming. It was supposed to arrive in February.
Nobody knows what's next... in anything. Recession,...Depression..? Is all still coming to market as planned (like new consoles, new cars,etc..) or it will be cancelled last minute?
If you need memory, buy it now. If you speculate whether it will go up or down, probably impossible to go down. What can happen you won't be able to buy the one you want though :- ). It's already impossible to buy many high-end parts for Threadrippers like motherboards.
