Hi John,
IDC trims 2005 worldwide PC forecast
March 23, 2005 14:40
Growth of global personal computer sales is expected to cool to about 9.7% in 2005, market research firm IDC said today, scaling back its prior forecast of 10.1% growth.
The downgrade is the result of a delayed recovery in Japan and a cautious outlook in the US, IDC said.
'The good news is that demand is likely to shift into later years, and the growth forecast remains above 8% through the end of 2009,' IDC said. Nonetheless, the outlook calls for a sharp deceleration in PC sales after growth estimated at 15% in 2004.
Total shipments are expected to reach 195.4 million in 2005, with total shipment value growing by 5.3% to $209 billion, the firm said.
'Despite fears of slowing growth, particularly in the US consumer segment, the PC market was fairly robust in the fourth quarter of 2004, with strong demand in the consumer and business segments,' according to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.
'While overall growth in 2005 will be slower than 2004, we expect to see continued strength in portables and in emerging markets. Although worldwide growth will slip into single digits this year, long-term drivers such as mobile adoption, replacement of older systems and growing penetration will support healthy growth through the end of the decade', IDC said. |
