Tim Cook issues chilling warning as ‘hundred-year-flood’ strikes US tech giants like Apple, Dell, HP. Get protection now

Tim Cook issues chilling warning as ‘hundred-year-flood’ strikes US tech giants like Apple, Dell, HP. Get protection now Thomas Kent Tue, June 23, 2026 at 10:50 PM GMT+7 9 min read AAPL IBM DELL Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Tim Cook has spent more than four decades inside the global electronics supply chain. From IBM to Compaq to Apple, he has lived through shortages, cost spikes, shipping chaos and economic shocks. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s how to fix it ASAP JP Morgan sees gold hitting $6,000/oz before 2027 — and a Gold IRA lets you hold the physical metal while deferring the tax bill. Get your free guide from Priority Gold The ultra-rich use these 5 real estate strategies to build wealth while they sleep — you can start with just $100 But according to the Apple CEO, this one is different. “This is a hundred-year flood,” Cook told The Wall Street Journal (1) in an exclusive interview. “I’ve never seen anything like it in any area in over 40 years.” The warning came as Apple prepares to raise prices on its products to offset surging costs for memory and storage chips used in iPhones, Macs, iPads and other devices. “Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable,” Cook said. “We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable.” Cook declined to say exactly when the increases will hit, how large they will be or which Apple products will be affected. But the company’s next major launch is expected in September, when Apple is likely to unveil the iPhone 18 lineup. Chips used for memory and storage power everything from phones and laptops to gaming systems, medical devices and cars. When their prices surge, the pain can ripple across large parts of the economy. And Apple is not some small player caught off guard. It is one of the richest and most powerful companies in the world, with deep supplier relationships and years of experience using its scale to negotiate better prices. Yet even Apple says it can no longer fully absorb the cost shock. The rapid buildout of AI servers has intensified competition for the same key chips used in consumer devices, leaving even one of the world’s richest and most powerful companies struggling to secure supply at reasonable prices. The Wall Street Journal reported that prices for memory and storage chips have quadrupled since last year as demand surged. For consumers, the math could be painful. TechInsights estimates that if Apple passes on the higher costs while protecting its margins, the next iPhone Pro model could cost roughly $270 more. Other major device makers, including Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Nintendo, have already raised prices. Morgan Stanley estimates smartphone and PC prices in the U.S. could rise 15% this year. For investors, Cook’s warning carries an even bigger message: Inflation is not just a headline number. It is a force that moves through supply chains, squeezes companies, raises prices and quietly erodes the value of money. Your paycheck may stay the same. Your bank balance may look unchanged. But the cost of maintaining your lifestyle can keep climbing. And you do not need a “hundred-year flood” to see it. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (2), $100 in 2026 has the same purchasing power as just $11.74 did in 1970. That’s right. $100 became less than $12. Cook’s flood, coupled with this steady pressure, might just wash many out to sea. That’s why Americans are looking beyond cash and traditional savings when thinking about how to protect their purchasing power. Here’s a look at three time-tested strategies. When it comes to preserving wealth and fighting inflation, few assets have stood the test of time like gold. Its appeal is simple: unlike fiat currencies, the yellow metal can’t be printed at will by central banks. This inherently limited supply can help it store value. Gold is also considered the ultimate safe haven. It’s not tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher. Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly highlighted gold’s role in a resilient portfolio. “People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC last year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.” Over the past five years, as inflation continued to chip away at the purchasing power of the dollar, gold has climbed 133%. Other prominent voices see further potential. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has said that in this environment, gold can “easily” rise to $10,000 an ounce. One way to invest in gold that can also provide significant tax advantages is

Tim Cook issues chilling warning as ‘hundred-year-flood’ strikes US tech giants like Apple, Dell, HP. Get protection now

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