Average PC prices are set to climb 17.3% in 2026, according to IDC’s June forecast.
IDC’s latest quarterly outlook shows the price increase driven by a continued memory shortage that limits supply of DDR5 modules. The firm projects global PC shipments to fall 3% year‑over‑year, slipping to roughly 315 million units, down from 325 million in 2025. With fewer units and tighter component markets, manufacturers are passing higher component costs onto consumers.
The jump matters because it erodes affordability for both home users and enterprise buyers, potentially delaying upgrades and slowing demand for new software licences. Resellers may see tighter margins as they juggle higher stock costs against weaker sales volumes.
In short, the price spike is less a headline grabber than a symptom of a supply chain bottleneck that could shape the PC market for the rest of the decade.