German IT Sector on the Mend

Germany’s IT sector breathed a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday when a report by market research company IDG showed that consumers and businesses in Germany are buying more computers after holding back for the past two years. The report showed that PC shipments in Germany, the largest computer market in Europe, rose 13.8 percent to 1.8 million units year-on-year in the third quarter of 2003. Notebook computers were the main product leading the charge with 650,000 units sold, an increase of 58.2 percent on 2002. The report also forecasts a 10 percent growth -- the first growth in two years. In 2001, after the Internet bubble burst, PC sales in Germany plummeted 8.1 percent and again 2.1 percent the following year.