Updated

Global PC shipments fell 21 percent year-over-year in Q3 2026 according to Counterpoint Research, with multiple analyst firms including IDC and Omdia reporting similar declines, according to The Verge on October 22. The downturn follows more than two years of PC shipment growth but reflects months of escalating component prices, particularly in RAM. The same quarter saw smartphone shipments hit a 14-year low, suggesting broader pressure across consumer electronics from component shortages and pricing. The shift reverses the pandemic-era recovery in PC demand, as consumers delay purchases in the face of higher prices. Rising component costs have created a cycle where manufacturers reduce orders, but oversupply concerns keep prices elevated, discouraging consumer purchases until inventory normalizes.