Pc Sales Growth Expected To Slow In 1997 Heady Gain Seen In Early ‘90s Likely Is Over, New Study Says

Faced with weakened demand in Europe and growing saturation of the United States market, the personal computer industry will see its 1997 sales growth rate fall to the lowest level since 1991, according to a recently published study.

U.S. sales of PCs in 1997 are expected to increase 13 percent over 1996 sales, compared with 16.6 growth a year ago, according to the study, conducted by International Data Corp., a market research firm in Framingham, Mass.

Analysts say the study, which is generally in line with previous IDC projections, highlights the fact that the heady growth of the early 1990s is over, at least for now. While growth rates remain impressive by almost any standard, they are nonetheless significantly down from a yearly growth rate of 31.1 percent in 1993.

Indeed, an estimated 35 percent of America’s roughly 102 million households already own at least one computer. Though analysts say there is still room for growth, it is not expected to come easily.

“We’re moving into tougher demographics,” said Kevin Hause, an IDC analyst.

Worldwide, computer sales in 1997 are expected to increase 16.6 percent over 1996 figures. That compares with an 18.5 year-over-year increase the previous year.