Research firm IDC Friday predicted a surge in PC shipments for the latter
half of 2003, which would lead to projected growth in worldwide shipments
of 8.3 percent for the coming year.
IDC said it expects 2002 shipments to reach about 136.2 million, up 1.6
percent from 2001. But the firm predicts growth will increase in 2003 and
reach 11 percent in 2004 before slowing again.
“We continue to expect slow worldwide PC shipment growth for the next
several quarters, before the market accelerates in the latter half of
2003,” said Loren Loverde, director of IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC
Tracker. “While business spending has been slow to recover, we believe it
will pick up in the first half of 2003, and market drivers like portable
adoption, wireless networking, and TCO improvements will support moderate
growth.”
While IDC foresees a strengthened business and consumer market, it also
warned that government spending is likely to slow as reduced budgets hit
home.
“The enthusiasm apparent in U.S. retail over the Thanksgiving holiday is a
welcome confirmation of improvement in the home segment,” said Roger Kay,
director of Client Computing at IDC. “Although consumer shipments continue
to be down substantially from their peak, the market has resumed a seasonal
pattern and reflects growing demand despite mixed consumer indicators.
Although U.S. enterprises remain on the sidelines for the time being, we
expect business to lead market growth in the second half of 2003.”
However, IDC noted that economic and political factors may constrain future
growth, with security concerns and possible war in Iraq depressing both
consumer and business spending.
