Worldwide Q1 PC sales up 2.8 pct yr-on-yr - IDC

FRAMINGHAM, MA (AFX) - Worldwide PC market grew 2.8 pct year-on-year in the first quarter of 2001, with a market drop of 9.5 pct in the U.S., according to preliminary data released by IDC.	    Worldwide shipments reached 31.6 mln units amid the market slowdown, it said in a report.	    "The slowdown still appears focused on the U.S. market, although other regions are by no means in the clear," said Loren Loverde, director of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. "Businesses and consumers alike are holding back."	    Business spending sustained single-digit growth in Europe during the quarter, but has not revived the market to double-digit rates. Consumer spending also remained weak. 	    The Asian markets have also slowed from the rapid growth they experienced during the past couple of years, with Japan slightly behind expectations and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) slightly better.	    Dell Computer Corp pulled ahead of its rivals in the number of worldwide PC shipments in the first quarter, while International Business Machines Corp also gained market share.	    Dell took the lead in worldwide PC shipments by a "combination of a quick reaction to changing conditions in the U.S. market and solid performance abroad," IDC said. The company's shipments grew 30 pct year-on-year to 4,147,000 units, it added. 	    IBM's decision to leave the retail market in the U.S. and Western Europe, which seemed a woeful choice a year ago, actually insulated the company from the worst of the U.S. downturn, IDC said. IBM's shipments increased 6.8 pct to 2,004,000 units. 	    Compaq Computer Corp was aided by its breadth outside the U.S., although its year-on-year decline of 20 pct in the U.S. dragged down overall performance. Its shipments declined by 4.7 pct to 3,768,000 units.	    Hewlett-Packard Co did well in Western Europe, but this positive performance was counterbalanced by its exposure to the U.S. market, IDC said. Its shipments declined by 4.4 pct to 2,380,000 units.	    Fujitsu Siemens Computer's shipments declined by 0.8 pct to 1,773,000 units, IDC added. 

Related stock : (NIL)