Dell narrows gap with HP

Dell Inc. posted a 21.9% increase in personal-computer shipments last quarter, narrowing the gap with Hewlett-Packard Co. by outpacing the market leader for the second quarter in a row.

Hewlett-Packard’s second-quarter shipments rose 17.1%, helping the company keep the title of biggest PC maker for the eighth quarter, Gartner Inc. said. Global PC shipments increased 16% to 71.9 million units, topping the researcher’s estimate.

Dell, which lost the market lead to Hewlett-Packard in 2006, shifted away from sellings PCs only directly to customers last year and began offering its machines through retail partners in the U.S. and overseas. In a shift by Chief Executive Michael Dell, the company now sells PCs at more than 13,000 stores, compared with 80,000 for HP.