Gartner: Global PC shipments fell 3.7% in Q4 2016, fifth consecutive year of decline

The PC market has now been in decline for five years in a row, per at least one research firm. Not all 20 quarters were in the red, but the most recent nine were. For Q4 2016, both Gartner and IDC found PC shipments were down globally.

Gartner estimates worldwide PC shipments fell 3.7 percent to 72.6 million units in Q4 2016, marking the ninth quarter of PC shipment declines. According to the firm’s numbers, PC shipments have declined annually since 2012. Another perspective: “2016 shipment totals were at the same levels as shipments in 2007.”