IDC’s updated forecast projects that strong demand from the consumer segment, aggressive pricing, and rapid portable adoption will continue to drive worldwide PC growth in the fourth quarter of 2003and into 2004. Strong third quarter results and projected growth of 15.3% in the fourth quarter are expected to boost annual growth of worldwide PC shipments to 11.4%, an increase from prior growthprojections of 8.4% according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. Total shipments in 2003 are now expected to surpass 152 million with value flat at just over $175 billion. The updatedprojections represent shipment growth of 8.8% over 2000, the previous highest year for PC shipments, with a 22% decline in total value due to aggressive pricing and a shift toward lower-endconfigurations as overall computing power increases. Shipment growth is expected to continue at 11.4% in 2004, up from prior expectations of 10.2%, while shipment value is forecast to grow by 4% in2004.
“Following a surge in demand during the third quarter, and supported by an improving economic environment, we expect significant growth in the fourth quarter”, said Loren Loverde, director of IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. “Consumers remain the primary market driver, and while business purchases have yet to accelerate substantially, overall growth shows the market in mid recovery. We expect greater business participation and continued double-digit growth during 2004.”
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