Gartner expects PC shipments will drop 11.9 percent this year -- the biggest decline suffered by the industry -- as emerging nations prepare to reduce the amount of products they order.

Although most industries are suffering from the struggling global economy, the PC industry was able to persevere in 2008, but Gartner predicts its luck will run out throughout the year.

"The PC industry is facing extraordinary conditions as the global economy continues to weaken, users stretch PC lifetimes and PC suppliers grow increasingly cautious," Gartner research director George Shiffler said in a statement.

The 11.9 percent predicted drop is more than three times worse than the PC industry's previous loss of 3.2 percent in 2001.  Prior to the economic meltdown, Gartner believed global PC shipments would top 155 million units this year, which would have been a nine percent increase when compared to last year.

Emerging markets have exploded over the years, but sales will drop 10.4 percent in 2009, Gartner predicts.  Both mature markets and emerging markets will suffer because of the economy.

"The impact of reduced replacements will be especially acute in mature markets, where replacements are estimated to account for around 80 percent of shipments," the research firm said in a published statement.

Hewlett-Packard, the largest PC maker, was forced to cut its 2009 profit outlook because the slumping economy has drastically hurt its PC business.  Dell also posted a 48 percent decline in Q4 earnings, and anticipates a continued struggle through 2009.