US PC prices could soar if Trump tariff threats come true

Date:
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
Proposed import tariffs for the US could see PC costs rise as much as 46%,
with smartphones also becoming more expensive.

FULL STORY

New research from Canalys has confirmed recent healthy growth in the US PC
market, with shipments rising 7% year-over-year to 17.9 million units in the
third quarter of 2024, however the outlook for the near future isnt quite so
positive. 

The firm stated market recovery could slow down in the months ahead due to
potential headwinds related to macroeconomic policies  a result of Trumps
upcoming presidency. 

Further factors, like weaker momentum in the Windows refresh cycle despite 
the outgoing OS, Windows 10, losing support in October 2025, are also set to
impact the market.

US PC market facing upcoming challenges 

With quarterly growth set to continue into the first quarter of 2025, Canalys
is predicting a shrinking market in the second quarter, with third- and
fourth-quarter growth barely in single-digit figures. 

The predicted 2% growth for 2025 as a whole will be significantly less than
the 6% expected in 2024. Last year's figures have not yet been released. 

Despite slowing growth, buyer splits remain fairly consistent, with consumers
accounting for around 37% of purchases and commercial customers taking 43-44%
of the market. Government and education customers make up the remaining
buyers. 

Canalys Analyst Greg Davis commented: With the 2024 US Presidential election
coming to a close, macroeconomic conditions in the US are not expected to be
as stable in the near-term as they have been over the last year or two. 

The companys release cites recent Consumer Technology Association research,
which suggests that proposed tariffs under Trumps upcoming leadership could
increase laptop and tablet prices by as much as 46%. Smartphones could also
see a 26% price hike following proposed tariffs of 10-20% on imports from 
most countries, and 60% tariffs on Chinese imports. 

A struggling market and rising costs mark a significant change from Canalys
expectations from September 2024, when the company declared that US PC
shipments could grow by 6% in both 2024 and 2025.

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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/us-pc-prices-could-soar-if-trump-tariff-threats-
come-true

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