Despite the already negative impact of the December transport strikes on France’s large retailers, Paris-based market research firm GfK SA is forecasting that annual personal computer sales will still be up 21% in volume, to 2m units, compared to a 10% increase on 1994 when all the figures for 1995 are totted up. Demand for more powerful multimedia machines should also mean a 19% increase in turnover for the year to about $5,000m, the firm predicts. The news is happier for the large retail stores, such as Carrefour, Auchan, FNAC and Darty, than for professional computer resellers, however. GfK notes that the large retailers will record increases over 1994 of 46% in units and 52% in turnover, and that they will account for nearly one quarter of total 1995 personal computer sales.
