Nokia has announced that it expects the global handset market to decline by at least 5% next year.

If the world's largest mobile phone maker is correct, then it would signal the first real decline of the industry that has enjoyed almost unprecedented growth in the last decade.

The announcement is the second time in the last month that Nokia have cut their global handset market predictions.

"The industry continues to be impacted by the effects of a global consumer pull-back in spending, currency volatility and decreased availability of credit," said a Nokia spokesman.