Global shipments of personal computers declined 1.4% in the fourth quarter, slightly more than expected, on soft holiday demand and continued consumer weakness in Europe, according to industry researcher Gartner Inc. (IT).

Gartner said shipments of PCs fell to 92.2 million units in the fourth quarter, falling just shy of its earlier projection of a 1% year-over-year decline.

The report underlines recent concerns that the economic slowdown in Europe and elsewhere will weigh on sales. PC makers also continue to struggle with competition from tablets and a shortage of hard-disk drives, a key component that became more scarce after flooding in Thailand caused some manufacturers to suspend operations.

Gartner's data follows companies such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Intel Corp. (INTC) warning of soft fourth-quarter PC demand in recent weeks

"Continuously low consumer PC demand resulted in weak holiday PC shipments," Gartner principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa said.

"While economic uncertainty in Western Europe had an effect on consumer PC shipments, expectations of a healthier economic outlook in North America could not stimulate consumer PC demand in that region," Kitagawa said.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) remained the top PC seller by volume, but lost share to No. 2 Lenovo Group Ltd. (0992.HK) as its deliveries plunged 16%. Lenovo saw a 23% increase in shipments.

PC shipments in the U.S. fell 5.9%. "As expected, consumers' attention was diverted toward other product categories, especially smartphones and media tablets," Gartner said.

Shipments in Europe, the Middle East and Africa tumbled 9.6%, the region's fourth-straight quarter of declines, amid "weak consumer growth" and an "uneasy economic environment," Gartner said.

The report follows Microsoft executives saying late Tuesday that the 1% decline previously forecast by industry analysts was likely too optimistic.

Last month, Intel warned its fourth-quarter revenue would fall $1 billion short of its prior estimates because of hard-disk drive shortages hurting its core PC market. Chip makers Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN) and Altera Corp. (ALTR) have also recent pared performance expectations, citing weaker demand amid economic worries.

Results from a similar survey by International Data Corp., which had forecast a 0.6% decline in PC shipments, also are expected Wednesday.

-By Matt Jarzemsky, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2240; matthew.jarzemsky@dowjones.com