PC sales hit lowest level for a decade

Sales of personal computers in Europe have continued to fall over the last three months making the quarter ending 30 September the worst since the early 1990s.

Research firm Context monitors retail and corporate reseller sales in UK, France and Germany and while it doesn't include direct and internet sales in its numbers the former categories still account for 70 per cent of the PC market.

According to its figures sales were down 9.3 per cent compared to the same quarter a year ago. Market saturation and the economic downturn are the most common reasons given for poor PC sales.

Last month another research firm, IDC slashed its expectations for worldwide PC sales predicting a 1.6 per cent decline this year.