SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Outlook for global personal computer (PC) market continues to improve and the worst may be over for the industry, research firm Gartner said on Wednesday while releasing the latest forecast for this year's worldwide PC shipments.

    According to Gartner, global PC shipments are expected to drop 2 percent in 2009 from the previous year, much more optimistic than the 6-percent decline the firm predicted in June.

    "PC demand appears be running much stronger than we expected back in June, especially in the United States and China," George Shiffler, research director at Gartner, said in a statement.

    "Mobile PC shipments have regained substantial momentum, especially in emerging markets, and the decline in desk-based PC shipments is slowing down," he added.

    Gartner said PC shipments are likely to be growing again in the fourth quarter, but may not be able to experience growth for the whole year.

    For PC shipments to post growth for the year, growth rate would have to be at least 4 percent in the second half as global PC shipments fell 4.4 percent in the first half of 2009.

    Gartner analysts said that scenario seems just a bit beyond the market's capability at this point.

    "2010 should be a considerably better year for the PC market," Shiffler said. "We now expect units to grow 12.6 percent next year as mobile PC growth continues to gain momentum and desk-based PC growth turns positive, thanks to revived replacement activity."