Global PC shipments crater 20% as rising prices hammer demand

Global PC shipments fell more than 20% year over year as AI-driven shortages of memory and storage pushed component costs sharply higher, causing buyers to delay refreshes and rely on existing devices longer. For CIOs, this signals continued pressure on endpoint budgets, longer replacement cycles, and less predictable pricing for standard PC fleets, with potential knock-on effects to workforce productivity and support planning. IT organizations should expect volatile availability and may need to shift from annual refresh assumptions to more selective, needs-based procurement and lifecycle management.