Due to an unexpected global shortage, the price of memory chips for computers is rising at its fastest rate in more than four years. “The price rise of more than 70 percent this year is in sharp contrast to analysts’ expectations at the end of 2003, when they forecast prices would slide as new production technology increased supply,” reports Reuters. “The price rise is related to at least two factors: Some manufacturers have run into problems using the latest production technology, and many have switched from making basic memory to flash memory for camera phones and digital cameras.”