PC prices may remain above 2025 levels through the end of 2027, according to an IDC forecast published June 2, 2026. IDC expects worldwide PC average selling prices to rise 18.3% in 2026 and says it sees no meaningful relief from the memory shortage before the end of 2027. That is a market-wide forecast—not a promise about the price of a particular computer or what every shopper will pay.
What IDC expects for PC prices
IDC forecasts worldwide PC average selling prices (ASPs) to increase 18.3% in 2026. An ASP is a market average, so it can rise even while some models or retailers offer discounts. It does not mean every PC will cost 18.3% more.
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IDC attributes the outlook primarily to a persistent memory shortage. The firm says it does not expect meaningful relief before the end of 2027 and expects PC prices to remain unlikely to return to 2025 levels even as memory capacity expands. IDC Vice President Jean Philippe Bouchard said, “We’re not seeing any relief to the memory shortage situation before the end of 2027, which means prices will continue to rise and PC manufacturers will struggle to maintain full product portfolios for the foreseeable future.” This is a forecast, not a report of a final 2026 result. IDC’s June 2026 outlook
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IDC’s June 2, 2026 outlook also forecasts worldwide PC shipments to fall 11.3% for full-year 2026. That does not conflict with rising ASPs: an average price can increase while the number of PCs shipped declines. IDC presents the memory shortage as the main pressure on its market outlook. IDC’s Q1 2026 performance and 2026 outlook
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There is a more optimistic forecast for late 2027
The timeline is disputed. Tom’s Hardware reported on September 21, 2026, that Acer chairperson and CEO Jason Chen expects PC prices to rise 5–20% toward the end of 2026, plateau in the first half of 2027, and begin declining later in 2027 as Chinese memory capacity comes online. This is Chen’s reported view, not a measured market result. The available reporting does not verify the capacity timeline or establish that it will lower retail prices.
That makes IDC’s forecast the stronger basis for saying prices may stay elevated, but not a settled consensus. The two outlooks differ over when memory supply may ease and whether prices will start falling during the latter half of 2027. Tom’s Hardware’s report on Chen’s forecast
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What the forecasts mean if you are deciding whether to buy
Neither forecast can calculate whether an individual buyer will save money by purchasing now or waiting. IDC’s ASP estimate covers a worldwide market average; it does not establish future prices for a specific country, retailer, model, or configuration. A later easing in supply, if it occurs, also would not guarantee an immediate or uniform drop in store prices.
Compare the actual computers available to you rather than treating the forecast as a price quote. Weigh:
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- Total price: Compare the full cost of the configurations you would genuinely consider.
- Memory and storage: Check that each system has enough for your intended workload; a cheaper configuration may not meet your needs.
- Performance: Judge whether the computer can handle the work you need it to do, rather than paying for specifications you will not use.
- Upgradeability: Consider whether memory or storage can be upgraded later, where that matters to you.
These are practical comparison criteria, not product recommendations or price predictions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How certain is the 2027 timeline?
The available forecasts do not establish a single outcome. IDC says meaningful relief is not expected before the end of 2027 and that prices are unlikely to return to 2025 levels even as capacity grows. Chen’s reported view points to declines beginning later in 2027. Neither statement proves what retail prices will do in a particular market.
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Gartner’s 2026 interim forecast listing describes a 130% surge in memory costs, but the underlying document page was inaccessible. That figure should not be treated as a verified measure of PC price changes or used to predict a shopper’s bill. Gartner’s interim forecast listing
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