June 30, 2009

Worldwide PC shipments are on pace to reach 274 million units in 2009, a 6 percent decline from 2008 shipments of 292 million, according to the latest forecast by Gartner, Inc. Gartner now expects the PC market to post positive growth in the fourth quarter of 2009, setting the stage for a healthy market recovery in 2010 with units forecast to grow 10.3 percent.

Gartner's latest forecast is somewhat brighter than its preliminary forecast from mid-May, which anticipated a 6.6 percent unit decline in 2009, and considerably stronger than its last detailed forecast from March, which projected a 9.2 percent unit decline. However, analysts urged caution and said that while the market appears to be strengthening, it is still premature to say that the worst is over and the market is recovering.

Mini-notebooks continued to cushion the market's decline in the first quarter of 2009. Units remain on track to reach 21 million this year and 30 million next year.

Mobile-PC units are forecast to total 149 million units in 2009, a 4.1 percent increase over 2008, but spending on mobile PCs is expected to decline 12.8 percent as mobile-PC average selling prices (ASP) continue to drop at an unprecedented rate.

Desk-based PC units are now expected to total 125 million, a 15.7 percent decline compared with 2008; spending is expected to decline 26.6 percent.

Read the entire briefing on Worldwide PC shipments on pace for 6 percent decline in 2009 at EMSNow.com