FRAMINGHAM, MA – International Data Corp.’s May PC forecast projected worldwide PC shipment declines of 11.7% in the second quarter of 2013, 4.7% in the third quarter, and 1.6% in the fourth quarter, resulting in a total annual drop of 7.8% for the year. 

This follows a decline of 13.3% in the first quarter of 2013 and 4% for all of 2012.

The PC market continued to suffer slow shipment growth in top countries across regions in May, said IDC. April shipment growth had improved slightly from March in Latin America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), but May growth has come in slower than April for each of these markets, except India and UK, the research firm says.

"The expectation for the second quarter was not all that high, showing only minor improvement from the first quarter. But the May results reflect deteriorating conditions rather than improvement, and the market will probably fall short of projections," said Loren Loverde, program vice president, Worldwide PC Trackers at IDC. "We still expect an improvement in the second half of the year as more new products are launched and we get into the back-to-school and holiday seasons. But the market will likely remain cautious about the second half of 2013."