PC makers warn of an unusual situation…AI boom will deplete parts and prices will rise further in the spring.

The price of personal computers (PCs) is about to rise. The prices of memory, which is essential for PC operation, and storage devices (SSD, etc.), which store data, have jumped several times in a short period of time since around this fall.

In support of this observation, PC maker Mouse Computer posted an “unusual call” on its official “X” (formerly Twitter) website, which has caused a stir.

Mouse Computer’s “heartbreaking cry” has become a topic of conversation.

On December 10, the account posted the following urgent message.

To those who are currently considering purchasing a computer, we recommend that you purchase as soon as possible! Really! The best time to buy is now: ……!!!!

Furthermore, on December 16th, <We expect to suspend sales and delay shipment of some products due to factory shortages and parts shortages caused by a much larger-than-expected increase in orders. We plan to make price changes sequentially from January onward,” he wrote, revealing that the impact of this situation was becoming a reality.

What in the world is happening to PC parts? Mr. Tsukasa Tokuhira, a representative of Cross Corporation (Minato-ku, Tokyo), an expert on the consumer electronics industry, revealed the desperate situation on the frontlines.

In December, there was a noticeable shortage of memory and other data storage components. Unit prices have risen sharply, especially for some parts such as those used in games. The further ahead we go, the more we see a sense of shortage, and there is a strong possibility that prices will rise over the course of 2014.

Behind the price hikes is “special demand for AI”…data storage components are being “competed” with each other.

Behind this is the recent “AI boom. Since parts for AI data centers are priced higher than those for general consumers, the supply of such parts is being pulled into the market.

Major brands of data storage components include South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix, and the U.S.-based Crucial, which announced its withdrawal from the consumer business in December.

The supply-demand balance for AI has tightened, and it’s a lucrative business. It has become a seller’s market.

Mr. Tokuhira points out that the consumer-oriented business has been put on the back burner. If the unit price of a typical PC is 100,000 yen, data storage components account for less than 20% of that, or about 20,000 yen. If the unit price of these components increases by 1.5 times, the final PC price will rise by about 10,000 yen.

This year, sales of PCs with AI functions for the general public are going into full swing. Data storage components are also becoming larger in capacity. If you just use Microsoft Word or Excel, there is no problem, but if you process video or images, it eats up a lot of data.

Waiting for the “spring models” will hurt… “Low-cost smartphones” may disappear too.

When is the best time to buy? Major PC makers contract for components ahead of time, so components for PCs sold during the December bonus season have already been procured by October. However, inventories are limited.

The next sales season is March, which is the end of the fiscal year, and April is also a new fiscal year, so we sell well. We think there is a strong possibility that prices will rise considerably in the spring.

The impact is not limited to PCs. Some manufacturers may stop selling low-priced products and shift to mid-priced and higher-priced products.

We are also hearing concerns about a partial breakdown of the supply chain.

If you are considering buying a new PC, now is the time to make a move, when supply is stable. The best time to buy a new PC is when the December sales season is over and the first sales are underway.

For the average person, it doesn’t have to be AI-equipped,” Mr. Tokuhira advises.

Mr. Tokuhira advises that purchasing a used PC from a reputable vendor is also an option.

It’s not just PCs! Lighting and air conditioners, too… Aim for “model-outs” and “first sales

The wave of price hikes and supply shortages is sweeping through other home appliances as well. Take lighting fixtures, for example. As with PCs, there is a concern about a shortage of parts for the base components, as there are only a limited number of manufacturers who can supply them.

In addition, air conditioners are facing the “2027 problem,” in which new energy-saving standards will come into effect in 2027.

The price of air conditioners will go through the roof in ’27.

PCs, lighting, and air conditioners. …… Those who are considering replacing their home appliances between this holiday season and next year will not have much time to wait. It would be wise to protect yourself by taking action while you still can, including buying “unsold” or “used” appliances that are out of production.