3 November 2004 – New York (NY): PC sales for Q4 are expected to be down on analyst expectations amid weak consumer demand for desktop computers, say research groups.
Bear Stearns analyst Andrew Neff marginally lowered his Q4 forecast for global PC shipments to 51.3 million units from 51.5 million. This translates to a 13 per cent year-on-year growth, down from the 14 per cent previously estimated.
Meanwhile, Merrill Lynch analyst Steven Milunovich has said that recent retail checks suggest PC inventory levels are increasing as vendors battle for retail space ahead of the holiday season. "Demand seems mediocre for now," he said.
He added that HP and Compaq desktop brands have regained retail presence of late and currently hold 48 per cent of the category’s shelf space.
