Gartner: PC, mobile shipments to hit 2.5B in 2014

Research firm Gartner expects worldwide shipments of computers and mobile devices to reach 2.5 billion units this year, up nearly 8 percent from 2013.

The growth comes amid a steady decline in PC shipments, which is more than made up for by an increase in tablet and mobile phone shipments. Shipments of "ultramobile" devices such as laptop-tablet hybrids are also rising.

Gartner said Tuesday that it expects the global market for tablets to grow to 263.5 million units this year, up 47 percent from the 179.5 million shipped last year. Lower prices are among the factors expected to attract new users.

Traditional PC shipments, meanwhile, are expected to fall to nearly 277 million units, down 7 percent from last year's 299 million.

Gartner expects these trends to continue in 2015.