Record sales plunge predicted for PC market

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 2 Mar 2009 at 13:55

Analysts are predicting a record plunge in PC sales this year, as the recession bites emerging markets.

According to analysis firm Gartner, PC shipments will fall 11.9% in 2009, their sharpest fall ever, with sales in emerging markets contracting for the first time.

Sales of desktops are expected to drop 32% from last year, though sales of laptops will rise 9%. The PC market's previous sharpest fall was a 3.2% drop in 2001.

"The PC industry is facing extraordinary conditions as the global economy continues to weaken, users stretch PC lifetimes and PC suppliers grow increasingly cautious," says George Shiffler, research director at Gartner, which is offering the warning.

Sales in emerging markets are shrinking 10.4%, Gartner claims. This marks a startling change for those markets. Previously their slowest year was 11.1% growth in 2002.