PC Shipments Fall 4.9% in Q2 as Memory Costs Rise, IDC Reports

Global PC shipments declined 4.9% in the second quarter, marking the first drop in two years, according to market analysis firm IDC as reported by Yahoo Finance on local time. The decline is attributed to rising memory costs driven by a global memory shortage. IDC's research director for consumer devices, Jitesh Ubrani, stated that worsening macro conditions and memory shortages will not ease until early 2028, signaling a sharp slowdown in growth rates for the second half of the year.

Memory Shortage Drives Cost Pressures and Inventory Concerns

IDC reported that while the global memory shortage has not yet impacted PC manufacturers' revenues, the risk is growing. Ubrani explained that deteriorating macro conditions combined with the memory shortage will prevent inventory depletion, indicating a sharp deceleration in growth rates for the latter half of the year. He added that sellers are preparing for higher prices next year, and sales channels are already concerned about inventory accumulation at these elevated price points. Companies building datacenters are willing to spend heavily to secure as much memory as possible, leaving consumer electronics manufacturers with limited options.

PC Manufacturers Raise Prices Across Product Lines

Laptop manufacturers including Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Microsoft have increased prices for Windows-based systems. Apple has also raised prices across its MacBook lines, including the Neo, Air, and Pro models.

IDC Forecasts Potential Consolidation Among PC Makers

IDC stated that ongoing market volatility could lead to consolidation among PC manufacturers. The firm noted that rising costs burden smaller companies while presenting potential advantages for larger enterprises.

FAQ

What caused PC shipments to decline in the second quarter? PC shipments fell 4.9% in Q2 due to rising memory costs driven by a global memory shortage, according to IDC.

Which PC manufacturers have raised prices? Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Microsoft, and Apple have all increased prices across their PC and laptop product lines in response to memory cost pressures.