The unit-based data posted a week-on-week increase for the first time in four weeks. This indicates that PC sales are picking up. Sales of desktop models are brisk, posting higher week-on-week growth than the notebook type. The brisk growth is attributable to purchases of desktop type PCs by many beginners at the start of the new fiscal year.

The average sales price dropped 2,435 yen from the previous week's 228,450 yen (US$1,700). The average price declined for four consecutive weeks, since the fourth week of March.

GfK Japan said the downturn is expected to continue for some time under the current set of conditions in which the prices of current models will be cut when the new models for the summer season are introduced. Attention is now focusing on whether the sagging PC prices will push up demand.

GfK Japan's data is from about 2,000 outlets of 41 firms. The company selected the 41 firms in 1996 and has been releasing their data since then.

GfK Japan covers a greater number of outlets with combined unit- based sales accounting for about 10 percent of Japan's PC shipments and about 25 percent of total retail sales.

The following graphs are available through Nikkei Market Access in Japanese only:

- Trends in the number of all types of PCs sold in a week.

- Trends in the sales amount of all types of PCs sold in a week.

- Trends in average sales price of all types of PCs sold in a week.

- Trends in the number of desktop PCs sold in a week.

- Trends in the sales amount of desktop PCs in a week.

- Trends in the average sales price of desktop PCs in a week.

- Trends in the number of notebook PCs sold in a week.

- Trends in the sales amount of notebook PCs in a week.

- Trends in the average sales price of notebook PCs in a week.

Table: PC sales in the third week of April 1998 (Source: GfK Japan) "Year-before weekly comparison" in the Table means the comparison with April 21-27, 1997.

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Related story : Mass Retailer PC Sales Fall 16 Pct. in 2nd Week of April

(Nikkei Market Access)