PC shipments to retailers and different distributors have been up 32% within the first quarter of 2021 from the identical quarter in 2020, in accordance with a brand new estimate from Gartner. The analysis agency mentioned it was the best PC development price it had tracked since 2000 and estimated that 69.9 million laptops and desktops have been shipped within the quarter.

PC shipments fell sharply within the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic earlier than choosing up later within the yr, making for a straightforward comparability. However the increase is actual on an absolute foundation as properly: Complete PC shipments have been additionally the best they have been since 2015, after they got here in at 71.7 million, in accordance with Gartner.

Monday’s report means that PC gross sales are traditionally robust in the meanwhile and {that a} work-from-home PC gross sales increase might not finish as places of work recall extra employees and college students return to high school. The stats additionally counsel that PCs will proceed to require loads of new chips and different parts throughout a worldwide semiconductor scarcity.

“We consider, at the least this yr, particularly within the first half of this yr, PC demand will stay robust. The query is how robust it is going to be within the second half of this yr to subsequent yr,” Gartner researcher Mikako Kitagawa advised CNBC.

The primary quarter is normally a gradual time for PC gross sales, particularly in contrast with the vacation quarter.

Kitagawa mentioned this quarter’s outcomes might have been even stronger if not for a worldwide chip scarcity and different provide chain points which can be forcing some PC distributors to say they’ll ship computer systems months later than regular.

“The availability chain was utterly disrupted one yr in the past, and the availability chain is disrupted proper now due to a worldwide semiconductor scarcity,” Kitagawa mentioned.

Based on the report, the highest PC makers are Lenovo, HP, Dell, Apple, Acer, and Asus.

Different gross sales estimates additionally counsel a sizzling PC market in the course of the interval: Canalys estimates that the PC market grew by 55% within the quarter, and IDC estimates 55% development as properly.