Global PC shipments, already hit by consumers’ growing preferences for tablets and smartphones, are falling more than previously predicted due to weakness in China, according to market research firm IDC.<\/p>\n
Slower February shipments in China caused by government budget cuts and other factors mean worldwide PC shipments could fall by a “double-digit” percentage in the first quarter, compared with a previous estimated decline of 7.7 percent, IDC said in a report on Monday.<\/p>\n
For all of 2013, global PC shipments will probably fall between 1.8 percent and 2 percent, IDC analyst Loren Loverde told Reuters.<\/p>\n
“Even getting to positive growth in the second half of 2013 will take some attractive new PC designs and more competitive pricing relative to tablets and other products,” he said.<\/p>\n
A handful of financial analysts have recently trimmed their forecasts for top PC chipmaker Intel Corp’s first-quarter results because of concerns over weak PC sales.<\/p>\n
In China, which accounts for more than a fifth of global PC shipments, government spending cuts and anti-corruption measures have added to the timing of Chinese New Year in reducing purchases of new PCs in February, according to IDC.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, IDC said 2013 global PC shipments would probably fall 1.3 percent, extending a 3.7 percent decline in 2012.<\/p>\n
Intel, whose processors are used in 80 percent of PCs, has said it expects revenue between $12.2 billion and $13.2 billion in the March quarter, which it is due to report on April 16.<\/p>\n
Analysts on average expect Intel’s first-quarter revenue to be $12.69 billion, down about 6 percent from the December quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I\/B\/E\/S.<\/p>\n
Shares of Intel were down 0.16 percent at $21.34 on Monday afternoon on the Nasdaq.<\/p>\n
(Editing by Matthew Lewis and Marguerita Choy)<\/p>\n
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