Consumer storage costs have ballooned as artificial‑intelligence demand devours the limited supply of NAND flash. Prices for popular SSDs have more than doubled since late 2025, with the WD Black 2TB climbing from $173 to $649 and Samsung’s 4TB 990 Pro nearing $1,000. Hard‑drive prices are rising too, and manufacturers like Sony and Western Digital report near‑sold‑out inventory for 2026. Industry leaders Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron cite demand far outpacing supply, leaving everyday builders and gamers to shoulder the cost. Read more →