Smartphone sales sag as consumers delay purchases: Report

San Francisco: Global smartphone sales have slumped this year amid a “gloomy economic outlook,” prompting people to spend money on essentials instead of the latest gadgets, according to a market tracker.

Smartphone sales in the recently ended quarter were nine percent less than in the same period a year earlier, hitting a low not seen since 2014, according to research firm Canalys.

Worldwide smartphone sales in each quarter have fallen short in comparison to those in the same periods last year, it said in a release.

“The gloomy economic outlook has led consumers to delay purchasing electronic hardware and prioritize other essential spending,” the market tracker said.