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PC Shipments Plummet 21% Amid Rising Costs
9 Oct
Summary
- Worldwide PC shipments fell 21.2% year-on-year in 3Q26.
- Component cost increases have driven up PC prices and reduced demand.
- The PC market is forecasted to decline further in 4Q26 and 2027.
Global PC shipments, encompassing desktops, notebooks, and workstations, saw a substantial 21.2% decrease year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, totaling 58.1 million units. This marks the sharpest decline since the first quarter of 2023, reflecting a market correction after earlier demand surges. The downturn is largely driven by rising component costs, particularly for memory and storage, which have more than quadrupled their share in PCs.
These increased costs have translated into higher prices for consumers and IT decision-makers, leading to reduced purchasing activity. Vendors and their manufacturing partners began scaling back production in the third quarter as channel partners managed elevated inventory levels. Analysts predict these pressures will persist, with the PC market expected to decline by 24% in the fourth quarter of 2026 and an additional 7% in 2027.
