The August 2007 Book-to-Bill Report from SEMI for North American-based equipment manufacturers highlights both a two-month slump in the book-to-bill ratios and a downward trend overall. The August book-to-bill ratio of 0.83 is preliminary; however SEMI adjusted the July figure down slightly, now matching the August figure. 

"Orders reported by North American equipment companies continue to trend downward, as expected, and are 15 percent below the May peak," said Stanley T. Myers, President and CEO of SEMI. "Total worldwide 2007 equipment revenues remain on course to be comparable to 2006 sales."

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in August 2007 was $1.39 billion. The bookings figure is down about one percent from the final July 2007 level of $1.41 billion and 19 percent less than the $1.73 billion in orders posted in August 2006.
    
The three-month average of worldwide billings in August 2007 was $1.69 billion. The billings figure is even with the final July 2007 level of $1.69 billion and three percent less than the August 2006 billings level of $1.74 billion.

The new figures are inline with the fact that chip manufacturers, especially those in memory, had spent approximately two thirds of planned CapEx for the year in the first 6 months. Both major IDMs and foundries have restrained CapEx spending in the second half of the year, producing a slump in the book-to-bill ratio.