The International Data Corp. (IDC) forecasts that global shipments of traditional PCs will fall 8.2% year over year in 2022 to 321.2 million units while worldwide tablet shipments forecast has been lowered to 158 million units, a 6.2% decline compared to 2021.

IDC attributes the slowing demand for PCs and tablets to lockdowns, war, and inflation. The market intelligence firm expects shipments to return to positive annual growth in 2023 and beyond, although this year’s decline will result in a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.6%. Tablets face a larger decline over the same period as competition from PCs as well as smartphones will continue to inhibit growth, leading to a -2.0% CAGR.

Wearables market declines 3% in Q1 2022 — IDC
Global PC shipments decline by 5.1% in Q1 2022 — IDC

“Supply shortages have plagued the industry for a while and the recent lockdowns in parts of China continue to exacerbate the issue as factories struggle to receive new components from upstream suppliers while also facing issues downstream when it comes to shipping finished goods,” Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers, said in a media advisory. “While the restrictions are expected to ease soon, worker sentiment within the supply chain remains muted, and backlogs of deliveries will persist for the remainder of the year.”

However, IDC sees that PC shipments will remain “well above pre-pandemic levels” with vendors coming up with updates as well as new product lineups in the coming months. There is also the uptake within emerging markets and robust commercial demand to consider.

“Our research continues to show strong demand and supply activity aimed at the commercial PC market, but the consumer and education markets are seeing increasing concerns and, as a result, reduced orders,” said Ryan Reith, group vice president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “The reduction in the most recent forecast was significant for many reasons, and the uncertainty remains high.”