Consumer RAM Gets Crowded Out

Micron will stop selling Crucial consumer RAM in 2026 to prioritize memory shipments to AI data centers, a firm-level reallocation that will shrink retail supply of DRAM and SSDs and likely push up consumer upgrade prices and lead times. This is a direct corporate response to AI infrastructure demand rather than a temporary inventory blip. — If component makers systematically prioritise AI/datacenter customers over retail, consumer electronics availability, device repair markets, and competition policy will become salient public issues requiring government attention.