PC shipments to drop by 4.9% in 2015, says research firm IDC

According to International Data Corporation (IDC), PC sales have been forecasted to drop by 4.9% in 2015 compared to 2014's 3.3% fall.

Intel, the key chipmaker for the PC business, said its first quarter revenue would be around $12.8 billion, down from the $13.7 billion it had earlier expected, reported PCWorld.

About 293 million PCs are expected to be shipped in 2015, according to IDC.The research firm cut its forecast as it expects the stronger US dollar will make computers more expensive in many countries.

The PC business was earlier largely expected to be sidelined by tablets, but it turns out that these devices are also facing a rough patch, in part because of larger-screen cellphones.