Americans are putting off new PCs as inflation bites
Americans are tightening belts, choosing groceries over gadgets, and it’s showing in PC sales.
Groceries, gas, and rent are taking priority over new laptops. That’s the reality showing up in the US, and it is directly affecting the PC market, with figures showing shipments slipped 1.4% year-on-year to 18.6 million units in Q2 2025, according to new data from Canalys (part of Omdia).
Consumers, squeezed by persistent inflation and weak job reports, are holding onto older machines rather than upgrading even as the clock ticks toward Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support deadline in October.
Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that while headline inflation eased to 2.4% by March 2025, food costs were still up about 3% year-on-year, and shelter inflation remained elevated at 4.3%, leaving households little room for discretionary spending.”
As a result, many American households are waiting until their PCs fail outright before buying new ones, putting pressure on vendors hoping for a Windows 11-driven refresh cycle.
“Premium electronics are losing ground to essentials like food and energy,” said Greg Davis, Analyst at Canalys. “Even with rising awareness about the Windows 10 deadline, most consumers aren’t treating PCs as urgent purchases.”
Commercial Strength vs. Consumer Weakness
While that is the reality for consumers, it is not the case in the business world, where the story looks very different. Awareness of the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline in October, combined with AI-PC demand for optimized workflows, is driving US businesses to upgrade. As a result, commercial demand actually grew 4% in the quarter, with companies moving ahead with PC upgrades and dipping their toes further into the world of AI-capable machines.
