Semiconductor chip sales off 7.3% in Feb.: report

Semiconductor chip sales off 7.3% in Feb.: report
3 April 2012, by Ben Fox (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/semiconductor-chip-sales-off-73-in-feb-report-2012-04-03

Worldwide semiconductor sales fell 7.3% in February from a year earlier as sluggish economies in Europe and Asia weakened sales, the Semiconductor Industry Association said.

Though the $22.9 billion in sales also declined from January--down 1.3%--the Americas region showed sequential growth at 1.1%.

"Overall, the combination of improved U.S. macroeconomic factors along with sequential semiconductor sales growth in the Americas region warrants an optimistic view for growth in 2012," SIA President Brian Toohey said.

With a continued macroeconomic recovery, semiconductor sales are expected to improve this year thanks to growing demand, SIA said.

Europe saw the steepest year-over-year drop, with 16%.

The Americas declined 5.4%, Japan 6.1% and Asia Pacific--which accounts for about half the global market--6%.

Sequentially, Europe saw a 1.9% decline in sales, while Japan and Asia Pacific each experienced 1.8% declines.