PC market shrinks for first time in 16 years

According to Gartner Data quest, the global shipments for the PC industry shrank in 2001, for the first time since 1985.

At 128 million units for the year they were down 4.6%.

The trend was particularly noticeable in the US where sales were down by 11.1%.

In the year sales of PCs to businesses were down, especially in the fourth quarter, though PC sales to consumers were slightly up.

Dell was the only PC maker whose sales year on year did not decrease.

In 2001 it had 27.5% of the market.

Gartner forecast that global sales would drop 4% in the first quarter compared with Q4, 2001 but would rise 4% for the year.