Worldwide PC shipments fell 20.1% to 62.7 million units in the third quarter of 2026, as high prices, supply shortages, and unsold stock slowed orders, according to preliminary results from market intelligence firm International Data Corp. (IDC).
PC makers and distributors had stocked up earlier in the year to get ahead of expected price increases. Sellers spent the third quarter clearing those computers instead of ordering more, leaving shipments below the previous quarter despite the usual seasonal increase.
“What we’re seeing is the result of the strong first-half pull-in,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research director for consumer devices at IDC. “Vendors and channels loaded up on inventory early in the year to get ahead of price hikes, and that has thrown off the usual seasonality, where Q3 is typically larger than Q2.”
Ubrani added that channels are now worried about carrying too much inventory into a market where high prices are suppressing demand.
“That could translate into promotions and some short-term relief for consumers, but we don’t expect pricing anywhere near what it was a year ago,” he said. “Prices will remain elevated. With macro conditions worsening, the risk is that the outlook for the next few quarters gets worse before it gets better.”
Shipments dropped for the second consecutive quarter. The decline was steeper than the 3.8% decrease in the second quarter. Third-quarter shipments also fell 9.1% from the previous quarter, reversing the market’s usual pattern.
IDC attributed the slowdown to supply problems and higher prices associated with the expansion of AI data centers. Earlier purchases shifted shipment volumes into the first half of the year, leaving fewer orders for the second half.
Lenovo remained the largest PC supplier, shipping 14.9 million units for a 23.8% market share. Its shipments fell 22.6% from a year earlier.
HP Inc shipped 10.3 million units, down 30.9%, while Dell Technologies shipped 7.6 million, down 25%. All three recorded declines larger than the overall market.
Apple shipped 5.9 million units, down 11.3%. ASUS shipped 5.5 million, down 8.6%. Both gained market share as their shipments declined more slowly than those of the three leading suppliers.
For PC buyers, sellers’ efforts to clear stock could bring short-term discounts. IDC cautioned, however, that prices would remain well above last year’s levels.
A weaker economy could further reduce computer purchases while prices remain high and supplies stay limited. IDC said these pressures could worsen the PC market outlook for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.