4Q13 global PC shipments suffer worst decline in PC market history

Worldwide PC shipments have declined for the seventh consecutive quarter, according to Gartner.

The analyst’s figures have revealed that worldwide PC shipments totalled 82.6 million units for Q4 of 2013 - a 6.9% decline from the fourth quarter of 2012.

Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner, said: "Although PC shipments continued to decline in the worldwide market in the fourth quarter, we increasingly believe markets, such as the US, have bottomed out as the adjustment to the installed base slows.

"Strong growth in tablets continued to negatively impact PC growth in emerging markets. In emerging markets, the first connected device for consumers is most likely a smartphone, and their first computing device is a tablet. As a result, the adoption of PCs in emerging markets will be slower as consumers skip PCs for tablets."

Computer Weekly has created an interactive graphic to compare PC shipments and market share for 4Q12 and Q413.