The book-to-bill ratio for North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment continued to fall month-on-month in September to a ratio of 0.81. This is a decline of 25 percent compared to the same month last year. Suppliers reported $1.23 billion in orders in September 2007, according to SEMI. The bookings figure is also down about 10 percent from the final August 2007 level of $1.37 billion. 

"New equipment orders have dipped to levels last seen in late 2005 and early 2006," said Stanley T. Myers, President and CEO of SEMI. "We are seeing orders decline from the peak levels earlier this year, which were driven largely by strong investments in 300mm memory capacity."

The three-month average of worldwide billings in September 2007 was $1.51 billion.