SK Hynix Semiconductor's memory fabrication plant in Wuxi, China was engulfed flames earlier today after a fire swept through the building. Even though the fire has been extinguished and Hynix said that damage was "minimal", some semiconductor vendors have put a hold on shipments to assess what will happen to prices, It is widely expected the prices may rise in the short term (spot prices).
So if you have been meaning to buy that extra stick of memory, check prices carefully and maybe buy sooner or prepare to wait it out.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9242096/Update_Hynix_plant_fire_leaves_memory_shipments_on_hold
Here's picture or two from Kitguru (http://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/faith/hynix-fabs-on-fire-after-chemical-explosion/) who also has the story.
(http://www.kitguru.net/wp-post-thumbnail/Co0GpL.jpg) (http://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/faith/hynix-fabs-on-fire-after-chemical-explosion/)
(http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Smoke-Fire-Hynix-Kitguru-3.jpg)
Yarp.
The Bangkok floods a couple of years ago made the price of hard drives almost double for about a year while the production facilities were disrupted/soggy.
Remember, it's all about supply and demand - if people are demanding something, but there's limited supply, the people who are willing to pay more will pay more, driving up the cost.
Good thing I ordered all the parts for new toy - erm - workstation two days ago.
The RAM I bought was this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104304
EDIT: $143 today - same price I paid.
Wow. Pricy. The memory I paid around $50 for In March/April is now almost $70. I also got 1 8GB stick for free as part of my motherboard promo. It seems prices have jumped for one reason or another.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148661
SK Hynix makes the news again - as a possible (but distant) target of an acquisition by Apple, Inc. to improve Apple's chances in memory manufacturing area and gain some independence from Samsung, currently not only Apple's biggest supplier, but also it's biggest competitor.
Bean counters fret about Apple's memory supply (http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2293227/beancounters-fret-about-apple-s-memory-supply).
This will be known as time immemorial.
(I just had to make the awful joke.)
Already prices for DRAM module have risen by 27% (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9242368/DRAM_prices_up_over_27_since_China_FAB_fire?taxonomyId=19).