Business Casual: Will a Rise in Q2 PC Shipments Endure the Recession and Pandemic?

Powered by RedCircle

In April, CNBC reported that due to disruptions in supply chains caused by the coronavirus outbreak, global sales of PCs in the first quarter 2020 suffered a sharp slump, with only 51.6 million PC units shipped in the first three months of the year. That figure was down 12.3% from the previous year and marked the biggest fall in shipments since 2013. However, despite the economic slowdown, recent reports from leading research, market intelligence and advisory firms, Gartner and IDC, paint a much more positive picture for the second quarter of this year. IDC reports global shipments hitting 72.3 million units, an increase of 11.2% from the same quarter in 2019. Gartner, on the other hand, reports just 64.8 million units shipped—a less optimistic rise of 2.8% from Q2 last year. This disparity in shipments may be due to the fact that Gartner didn’t include Chromebooks in its reporting while IDC did. Both companies, though, agree that specific variables can be attributed to this resurgence of PC shipments, including students and businesses who have had to adapt to learning and working remotely.

On this Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin discuss:

  1. Whether the escalation of shipments will be transitory or prolonged as the global recession and pandemic looms indefinitely
  2. How manufacturers and businesses will react to this information
  3. If consumers will opt for PCs over mobile moving forward
  4. And much more!

Every week, Business Casual brings topics to the forefront that affect the technology sector and other B2B industries. Tune in each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the trends and news shaping our world today.

Be sure to subscribe to our industry publication for the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Software and Technology Industry.

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Greenland Energy Company Is Leading Responsible Oil Development in Greenland’s Jameson Land Basin
October 30, 2025

The global conversation around oil is evolving—shaped by the forces of energy transition, geopolitical tension, and accelerating technology. Even as the world races toward decarbonization, demand for reliable, dispatchable energy continues to climb. Oil and gas together still supply just over half of global primary energy, underscoring their enduring role in the world’s power…

Read More
luxury resale
How Luxury Resale Became Big Business: Inside Fashionphile’s Playbook
October 30, 2025

Luxury retail is in the midst of a reinvention. Circular fashion has moved from trend to transformation, reshaping how consumers perceive value, ownership, and access. According to the 2025 BCG × Vestiaire Collective Resale Report, the secondhand fashion and luxury market now totals $210 to $220 billion globally and is projected to reach $320…

Read More
career
The Power of Reinvention: How Debbie Crouse Crafted a Career Across Industries
October 29, 2025

As the modern workforce continues to evolve, conversations around balance, fulfillment, and flexibility are taking center stage. With hybrid work redefining expectations and career paths becoming less linear, professionals are asking deeper questions about what “success” really means. According to Gallup’s latest data, only 31% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in…

Read More
acceptance
Coaching Away the Imposter Voice: Transforming Self-Doubt into Self-Acceptance
October 28, 2025

Authenticity isn’t about perfection — it’s about having the courage to show up as your true self, even when self-doubt creeps in. Many of us wrestle with imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, and the fear of being seen, but real growth happens when we embrace vulnerability and learn to trust our own voice. By letting go of…

Read More