The perfect storm of factors is conspiring to make our beloved gadgets pricier. Copper prices have been the real shocker – from around $5,000 per metric ton.
Why it matters: If you’ve been putting off that PC upgrade or new laptop purchase, you might want to pull the trigger sooner rather than later. Tech prices are on the rise, thanks largely to skyrocketing costs for the precious metals and other raw materials used in electronics manufacturing.
The perfect storm of factors is conspiring to make our beloved gadgets pricier. Copper prices have been the real shocker – from around $5,000 per metric ton back in 2020 to $8,300 today, according to a report by DigiTimes. With copper wiring used in practically every electronic device, that spike is bound to filter down to consumers.
The increase is already impacting some suppliers. Several Chinese semiconductor companies have recently notified customers that they’re jacking up prices by 10-20% immediately to account for materials inflation.
