The personal computer (PC) market continued to suffer slow shipment growth in top countries across regions in May, according to the "International Data Corporation (IDC) Monthly PC Tracker."

April shipment growth had improved slightly from March in Latin America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), but May growth has come in slower than April for each of these markets except India and UK.

IDC's quarterly PC forecast from May projected worldwide PC shipment declines of -11.7% in the second quarter of 2012 (2Q13), -4.7% in the third quarter, and -1.6% in the fourth quarter, resulting in total annual growth of -7.8% for 2013. This follows a decline of -13.3% in the first quarter of 2013 and -4.0% for all of 2012. The results for May are behind pace for achieving the projected 2Q13 growth rates, although stronger June results could still make up most if not all of the difference.

"The expectation for the second quarter was not all that high, showing only minor improvement from the first quarter. But the May results reflect deteriorating conditions rather than improvement and the market will probably fall short of projections," says Loren Loverde, Program Vice President, Worldwide PC Trackers at IDC. "We still expect an improvement in the second half of the year as more new products are launched and we get into the back-to-school and holiday seasons. But the market will likely remain cautious about the second half of 2013."