The price of Sony PlayStation 5 consoles will increase due to a "challenging economic environment" caused by high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates. The PS5 Digital Edition will rise from £390 to £430 in the UK, while in Europe it will go up from 449 euros to 499 euros. This is part of a global price hike for the console, also affecting Australia and New Zealand.

Semiconductors are tiny chips used in electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops, vehicles with electronic control systems, routers, and communication infrastructures. They are central to the global economy, with Taiwan's Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) providing over half of the world's supply. President Trump plans to introduce tariffs on imported semiconductors to encourage US firms to manufacture more products domestically, citing national security concerns about microchips being produced or sourced from elsewhere. The move is part of a broader effort by the US government to boost technology manufacturing in the country, with some companies such as TSMC already increasing their US presence in response to previous legislation.

The Trump administration has quietly exempted smartphones, electronic devices, and components from tariffs on Chinese goods entering the US, including iPhones made by Apple. This exemption represents a significant trade war retreat as it excludes the largest Chinese export to America by value. Without this exemption, iPhone prices could have increased significantly due to the 125% tariff, with potential sticker shock for consumers. The move has avoided a public repricing of iPhones and may have prevented a broader crisis in the US-China trade war.

Microsoft has halted its $1 billion project to build data centers in Ohio due to rising costs from Trump's tariffs. The company had initially announced the project last year, but on Monday revealed it would reevaluate the plans in the future. According to Microsoft, this decision aligns with their investment strategy.