A third-consecutive month of growth in semiconductor sales has the SIA cautiously optimistic about an industry recovery, though shied away from calling the next upturn. Worldwide sales of semiconductors in May rose to US$16.5 billion, an increase of 5.4% from April’s figure of US$15.6 billion.
“As consumer confidence returns and the economy resumes growth, we expect the industry to reflect those patterns,” noted George Scalise, President of the SIA.
Asia Pacific and Japan re-bounded the most. On a month-to-month basis sales in Japan grew 7.2% and Asia-Pacific 6.7%. Europe would seem to be the laggard having declined 34.6% on a year-to-year basis and only climbed 0.4% on a month-to-month basis.