Worldwide PC shipments dropped almost 29 per cent in the last quarter of 2022, the largest quarterly decline since Gartner started keeping records in the mid 90s.

According to figures from the technological research firm, PC shipments reached 28.2 million in 2022, a 16 per cent decrease compared with 2021.

Gartner said the anticipation of a global recession, increased inflation and higher interest rates had caused a drop in demand, while many consumers already have relatively new PCs which were purchased during the pandemic.

Commenting on the news Mikako Kitagawa, director analyst at Gartner, said: “PC demand among enterprises began declining in the third quarter of 2022, but the market has now shifted from softness to deterioration. Enterprise buyers are extending PC lifecycles and delaying purchases, meaning the business market will likely not return to growth until 2024.”

Supply of PCs was low in 2021, caused by high demand and supply chain disruption. Inventory levels started rising in the first half of 2022, which Gartner said have “become a bottleneck” for the PC market.

Lenovo maintained a 24 per cent market share, however the company experienced its steepest decline since Gartner started monitoring the PC market. The firm’s shipments fell in all regions, excluding Japan, dropping by over 30 per cent in EMEA and Latin America.

HP and Dell were also impacted, with HP Shipments in the EMEA market falling by 44 per cent compared to 2021. Gartner added that Dell saw weak demand in the large business market, which impacted its shipments in the second half of 2022.

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