European PC sales really should be picking up, but WHEN ?
Within the last months (including Xmas) we have seen a VERY
flat PC market with big problems for those who sell them.
Just two weeks ago Germany's second biggest PC-ware-house
nearly ran out of money and some banks had to jump in for rescue.
Europe's economy doesn't look bright at the moment, with
some countries struggeling to fulfill the Maastricht criterias
in order to join the single currency in whenever. So some
governments could be forced to reduce their debts with not
too positive effects on their economies (on the short term, that is.
In the long run it shoud pay off, though !)
The potential for more growth in 1997 is there, but it don't think that we will see as much as we could see, because of rising loans and taxes.
The run for home-PCs should get new steam at the end of this year,
considering how underdeveloped Europe is in this segment compared
to the US. The tendency to buy multimedia-PCs will grow, no doubt
about that.
Business-investments tend to rise some months after interest rates
have seen their bottom, so there should be a demand for surrogating
old PCs in 1997.
Schools and universities won't get the money for bringing their
PC equipment up to date, due to public financial problems as mentioned above.
So, summa summarum, 1997 WILL be a better year for PC sales in Europe than 1996, but don't ask me who the winner in delivering the chips will be. This struggle is the same here as there.
Manfred,
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