ST. PETERSBURG, FL--(Marketwire - Jul 21, 2011) - The Global Technology Distribution Council's PC Market indices tracking the U.S. and Europe continue to show contrasting results in this key industry sector representing a broad selection of corresponding PC products in both regions. PC category sales through U.S. distribution accelerated during the second quarter -- with the GTDC PC Market Index for this region reaching 151 for the second quarter, up 14 index points from the first quarter of 2011 and 19 points from Q2 last year. In contrast to the apparent U.S. momentum, the GTDC PC Index for Europe reflected the varying headwinds faced by the diverse European markets. Overall, the GTDC PC Index for Europe slipped to 92, down 7 index points from Q2 2010, with overall unit volume flat, offset by a decrease in average prices, including notebooks, the largest segment in the category.
The GTDC indices are predominantly based on GTDC member sales-out data independently aggregated by The NPD Group Distributor Track® in the U.S. and CONTEXT SalesWatch in Europe. Each regional index provides a quarterly look at the PC Market category's composite revenue and average selling prices, indexed from a normalized starting point beginning in the first quarter of 2009. The PC Market category includes hundreds of PC products, ranging from desktops, notebooks and convertible tablet PCs to workstations and servers that the GTDC's research partners track down to the SKU level.
GTDC members, the world's largest IT distributors, drive more than $100 billion in global sales annually, making the organization's regional indices a highly reliable means of assessing the tech industry's recovery from the major downturn that struck the U.S. and Europe more than two years ago.
"Despite economic headwinds in different parts of the world, many of the tech sector's core product categories continue to grow," commented GTDC CEO Tim Curran. "We see divergent factors at work, including major differences in the pace of recovery in the U.S. compared to Europe, but in general it's safe to say that 'PC power' remains a key driver of efficiency and cost savings in business."
Other highlights from the GTDC's analysis include:
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The GTDC U.S. PC Index reached a record 50 points higher at the end of the second quarter of 2011 compared to the starting point of 100 for the index in Q1 2009.
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From the Q1 2009 starting point of 100, the GTDC Europe PC Index initially fell 17 points in the second quarter of 2009 and has fluctuated significantly due to more pronounced seasonality effects in Europe as well as the more dynamic economic conditions across countries tracked in this region's database. Compared to its low point in Europe two years ago, the index for this region ended nine points higher for the second quarter of 2011.
"Distributors have emerged as much more than the most cost-effective and efficient means of getting comprehensive IT solutions to the right place at the right time," Curran pointed out. "Solution providers that are on the front lines, integrating and supporting these products, turn to distributors as their trusted advisors and partners in services delivery. Together, they provide unique value to vendors that cannot be matched any other way, especially when it comes to reaching and addressing the IT requirements of small and midsize businesses worldwide."
About The Global Technology Distribution Council
The Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) is a worldwide industry association dedicated to defining and promoting the role of wholesale distribution in a successful and healthy information technology channel. The Council is comprised of the computer industry's top wholesale distributors dedicated to serving "the channel," a network of skilled value-added resellers and retail stores focused on providing hardware, software, and services to businesses and consumers around the globe. GTDC members include AB S.A (
Contact Information:
GTDC CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chuck Miller
CommCentric Solutions Inc.
Phone: 727-432-4097
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