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Massive AI buildout poses latest inflation threat as consumers pay more for laptops and electricity
By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· July 13, 2026
· 5 min read
American consumers — and the Federal Reserve — are being hit with another high-cost headache. The gusher of investment in data centers — likely topping $700 billion this year — to power artificial intelligence has made memory chips, computer processors and other equipment, as well as electricity,...
Key takeaway While it won't be as large a spike as occurred in 2021-2023, when inflation peaked at 9.
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About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Piney Point surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: July 13, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? American consumers — and the Federal Reserve — are being hit with another high-cost headache. The gusher of investment in data centers — likely topping $700 billion this year — to power artificial intelligence has made memory chips, computer processors and other equipment, as well as electricity,...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Piney Point readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Piney Point selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Piney Point, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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