Global PC sales by value are expected to plummet by a staggering 5.3 per cent in 2009.

According to IDC, PC unit sales will record an incremental increase of just 3.8 per cent during 2009. The company has also lowered its outlook for 2008 and 2010 to 12.4 and 10.9 per cent, with growth above 12 per cent for 2011 and 2012.

The deepening economic recession has significantly affected emerging markets in Latin America, Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As such, countries in Latin America and Central/Eastern Europe are likely to post declining volume throughout the third quarter of 2009. However, volume will continue to expand in the Middle East and Africa, but at a noticeably slower rate compared to previous years.

PC shipments in the United States are projected to decline by almost three per cent, while Japan and Canada are set to experience low, single-digit growth over the next two years. Nevertheless, Western Europe could report a respectable growth rate of six per cent due to sales of popular, low-cost notebooks. Similiarly, the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) is expected to report a seven per cent shipping increase during 2009 and an 18-20 per cent growth rate in subsequent years.

"Portable PC adoption, falling prices, and system replacements remain the key drivers," explained Loren Loverde, director of IDC's worldwide quarterly PC tracker. "Low-cost mini notebooks will help volume but pressure margins and revenues. Consumer and commercial segments will be much more conservative in their purchases over the coming year or two, and while low prices will remain essential, they will not drive volumes as they did the past few years." X