Monitoring a sales slide in Q2

Volumes continue to fall across EMEA for displays category

Sales of monitors by volume across EMEA continued to fall through Q2, according to the latest figures from displays specialist Meko.

The analyst firm reports that unit sales of monitors in the region slid 6.5 per cent in Q2 this year, compared to Q2 2010.

"This is the fourth consecutive quarter of decline," said Ashar Mohd-Hashim, desktop monitor analyst at Meko (pictured, left), in a statement. "Brands with heavy reliance on the consumer sector saw their numbers dip more than those with a stronger commercial presence."

Mohd-Hashim explained that consumers appear reluctant to spend their money in a climate of increasing inflation and low wage rises. He added that consumer demand is unlikely to rebound significantly any time soon.

"And the commercial sector's volume is unlikely to be high enough to compensate for its losses. The total volume for 2011 is expected to be six per cent lower than last year," he said.

In recent months, Germany and France have done well economically, but continue to see consumers avoiding spending money on new monitors, he said.

Unsurprisingly, the Middle East and Africa were the strongest parts of the region in Q2 2011, a tendency that was strengthened by the easing of tension and the consequent rebuilding of business and industry. Monitor volumes in Egypt rose 50 per cent from the same quarter in 2010, according to Mohd-Hashim.