IDC's PC sales forecast drops a point due to US slump

 

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Posted on 21 Dec 2006 at 16:43

Slow growth in the US has been bolstered by healthy demand elsewhere in the world, resulting in analyst IDC lowering its PC sales forecast by one per cent

Analyst IDC has adjusted its PC sales forecasts, citing slowing growth in the US during the last quarter.

While, worldwide, users' hunger for new PCs hasn't been totally satisfied yet, with growth of 9.1 per cent overall in Q3, the US has recently demonstrated a slightly smaller appetite for new machines, leading to slower country growth during the same period.

Businesses are also expected to hold fire on entering their replacement cycles until later next year, as well as being swayed by the lure of form factors other than the traditional PC, which will also have an impact on shipment projections.

As a result, the analyst has lowered its market growth expectations by one per cent over the next three years.

IDC does expect double digit growth until 2008, which is then predicted to drop to less than nine per cent in 2009 and 2010.

'Growth in PC shipments remains strong despite slower growth in the United States in Q3 and in Europe and Japan in the second quarter,' said Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

'The market is moving toward portable PCs and emerging markets even faster than expected. While growth in these areas is welcome, the outlook for mature markets is becoming more conservative.'

Bob O'Donnell, vice president, Clients and Displays at IDC, added: 'The third quarter reflected slower growth in desktops that will continue to constrain the market.

'However, more replacements beginning in late 2007 and increasing specialization in designs will support higher growth down the road.'

Author: Maggie Holland