ST. PETERSBURG, FL--(Marketwire - January 26, 2011) - PC market sales are gaining momentum in the U.S. and Europe, albeit with contrasting recovery paths from the downturn that began in Q4 2008, according to a new index introduced today by the Global Technology Distribution Council. Based on IT distributor sales-out data aggregated in The NPD Group Distributor Track® in the U.S. and Context SalesWatch-Distribution in Europe, the GTDC PC Market Index reveals the category's trends in each region from a normalized beginning point -- the first quarter of 2009. GTDC members drive more than $100 billion in annual worldwide IT sales.
The U.S. GTDC PC Market Index steadily rose 38 points over the past eight quarters, while the category index for Europe increased a comparable 35 points, with significant gains in each quarter of 2010 over corresponding periods in 2009. The index for this region fluctuated in accordance with normal seasonality trends, reaching its two-year apex in the fourth quarter. Here are other highlights by region and subcategories within the GTDC PC Market Index:
U.S. GTDC PC Market Index Highlights (based on NPD Distributor Track® data)
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Notebooks increased 31 points in overall revenue, driven by a 40-point increase in unit volume offset by a 6-point decline in average selling prices (ASPs).
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Desktops advanced 53 points on the index, primarily due to unit volume growth combined with a modest 3-point increase in ASPs.
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Bare Bones, Servers, Workstations and POS PCs all achieved overall growth, with increases in both ASPs and unit volume.
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Thin Clients and Terminals increased significantly in unit volume while ASPs declined.
Europe GTDC PC Market Index Highlights (based on Context SalesWatch - Distribution data)
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Unit volume accounted for most of the PC market category growth in Europe, led by notebooks, with ASPs remaining relatively flat throughout the period.
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Desktops, Servers (PC/Mac) and Workstations (PC/Mac) all achieved growth through increases in both unit volume and ASPs.
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Tablets (not including Pads) which had struggled to recover from a sales trough in Q2 2009, showed strong resilience in Q4 2010, ending 70 points higher.
"Distributor sales provide a definitive view of what's happening in IT," commented Tim Curran, GTDC CEO. "Our research partners aggregate this data down to the SKU level, including ASPs, unit volume and other characteristics that yield the most accurate industry insight possible. Subscribers can drill into the scope and depth of trends associated with any product category of interest -- in the U.S. and Europe today and most likely in other regions as the GTDC continues to expand internationally."
"The GTDC PC Market Index provides the industry with a clear line of sight into the market demands for PCs and related hardware," remarked Greg Spierkel, CEO of Santa Ana, Calif.-based Ingram Micro Inc., the world's largest technology distributor. "Distributors are the central force in delivering comprehensive technology solutions worldwide -- not just the products, but also the value-added services that vendor partners and channel customers require. Together, we represent a complete front-line perspective on the trends and developments shaping the IT industry's future."
For more information on the GTDC PC Market Index, visit the Research section of the GTDC's Web site at gtdc.org/research.php.
About The Global Technology Distribution Council
The Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) is a worldwide industry association dedicated to defining and promoting the role of wholesale distribution in a successful and healthy information technology channel. The Council is comprised of the computer industry's top wholesale distributors dedicated to serving "the channel," a network of skilled value-added resellers and retail stores focused on providing hardware, software, and services to businesses and consumers around the globe. GTDC members include AB S.A (
Contact Information:
GTDC CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chuck Miller
CommCentric Solutions Inc.
Phone: 727-432-4097
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