No more cheap flash memory

[TooNice]

Toward the end of May 2007, I bought a 2GB Sandisk Cruzer for £12.14
Mid April 2008, I bought a 4GB Sandisk Cruzer for £12.99
End of Feb 2009, I got a 16GB Sandisk Cruzer for £15.49

Today, the same drive priced at £17.79 is considered 'hot' on HotUKDeal.

I am really not sure what's crazier. The price huge drop between 2008-2009, or the fact that price has not only stagnated, but even gone back up between 2009 and 2010. Those are not fast memory, I can't imagine them being the same as the ones used in SSD HD. But could it be that the factories that previously made flash memory for flash drives have shifted their production towards flash memory for SSD drive resulting in a decrease of supply? Are the days of 'double capacity for around the same money per year' forever gone?

[lego batman]

I don't know if this is the same stuff, but I bought 4gb RAM last year for £30. Now the same kit costs £70...

[Ulti]

Well with RAM it's different, As DDR2 was mature then, there were lots of manufacturers in the market which rose supply far above demand and therefore price fell. However, as soon as the switch to DDR3 began, DDR2 prices rapidly rose to what they are now as supply fell far too quickly as RAM manufacturers produce DDR3 RAM now.

[MadduckUK]

certain SSD's selling for around £130 and considered a bargain were actually being sold on release last year for about £110.

its only a bargain when considering what other stores are selling it at, if we go on:

1. RRP
2. lowest retail price so far

its not even half a bargain - which is why i have decided to wait

[scaryjim]

AFAIK the cost of all types of memory have gone up over the last year. Not entirely sure why: I think it's mostly the economic conditions, with a bit of some technical issues thrown in for good measure.

[kellyharding]

memory prices have always tended to be somewhat volatile.

[Funkstar]

AFAIK the cost of all types of memory have gone up over the last year. Not entirely sure why: I think it's mostly the economic conditions, with a bit of some technical issues thrown in for good measure.

The global credit crunch meant that investment in new flash memory production capacity was put on hold, this has menat that while the market has grown, production has been slow to keep up. A higher demand vs supply ratio means higher prices.

Exchange rates will also have an effect.

[TooNice]

Does anyone know if the same production facilities are being used to manufacture high performance flash memory for high end USB sticks/SSD HD and low performance memory for mainstream USB sticks?

[scaryjim]

... investment in new flash memory production capacity was put on hold ...

Ah, that makes sense.

A higher demand vs supply ratio means higher prices.

Flippin' supply / demand curves