Accelerating mobile PC shipments will drive the worldwide PC market to grow again this year, according to Gartner's preliminary fourth-quarter forecast. The new forecast predicts worldwide PC shipments will total 298.9 million units in 2009, a 2.8 percent increase from 2008. In 2010, PC shipments are projected to reach 336.6 million units, a 12.6 percent increase over 2009. The market value of PC shipments is still projected to decline.

Accelerating mobile PC shipments will drive the worldwide PC market to grow again this year, according to Gartner's preliminary fourth-quarter forecast. The new forecast predicts worldwide PC shipments will total 298.9 million units in 2009, a 2.8 percent increase from 2008. In 2010, PC shipments are projected to reach 336.6 million units, a 12.6 percent increase over 2009. The market value of PC shipments is still projected to decline.

The market value of global PC shipments is now forecast to total $217 billion in 2009, a 10.7 percent decline from 2008. "Blame this year's drop in market value on the unprecedented declines in PC average selling prices (ASPs) we've seen this year," says George Shiffler, research director at Gartner. "The rapid decline in PC ASPs reflects a marked shift towards lower price points as customers have looked for 'good enough' PCs at the cheapest price, and vendors have tried to spur market growth by catering to ever-lower price points. We expect PC ASP declines to slow as the market recovers, but given the market's competitive dynamic, we don't see PC ASPs rising any time soon. As a result, growth in the market value of shipments will significantly lag shipment growth next year and beyond."