Slightly better-than-expected growth in the first quarter and signs of commercial market purchasing have led International Data Corporation (IDC) to raise its worldwide PC shipment growth forecast for 2002 from 3 percent to 4.7 percent.

Strong consumer sales as well as a pickup in small-business sales have expanded the market, although sales at large companies have still been slow. IDC expects the increases in unit shipments typically seen in the second half of the year to be lifted by slow but steady improvement in the overall commercial sector. As a result, worldwide unit sales will pick up to 139.7 million this year, from last year's 133.5 million.

The research firm expects the worldwide PC market to return to double-digit growth in 2003, when total shipments reach 155.3 million units, up 11 percent over this year.

On regional outlook, IDC said that in the US, commercial demand should recover steadily throughout 2002, with sales reaching 31.98 million units by the end of the year. The European market is expected to rebound less dramatically than the U. S. market. With consumer growth expected to recover in the second half of this year and commercial growth driven by the education and governments, Asia-Pacific will continue to lead worldwide growth.

(eastday.com June 14, 2002)