Computer sales fall for the first time

America's ailing personal computer industry has led to the first decline in worldwide PC sales.

Market research firm Gartner Dataquest found shipments of personal computers totalled 30.4 million units in the second quarter of this year - a decline of 1.9% from the second quarter of 2000.

US shipments dropped by 6.1%, from 11.4 million to 10.7 million units. The United States accounts for nearly 40% of the world's PC market.

Initial estimates for Western Europe, which accounts for nearly 20% of the world's PC sales, also indicated a drop, although specific figures are not yet available.

A spokesman for Gartner Dataquest said: "It's slightly worse than we expected. Earlier this year, we were hoping for a (US) turnaround in the third quarter but now we're not expecting a turnaround until Christmas at best."

Dell, the world's top PC seller with a 13% market share, was the only major computer maker to show an increase.