SAN JOSE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 2, 2009— Worldwide sales of semiconductors were $15.3 billion in January, a decline of 28.6 percent compared to January 2008 sales of $21.5 billion, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported today. Sales declined by 11.9 percent from December 2008 when sales were $17.4 billion.

“Worldwide semiconductor sales in January, historically a relatively weak month for the industry, reflected a continuing erosion of consumer confidence and the effects of the global economic recession,” said SIA President George Scalise. “Sales declined across the entire range of semiconductor products, as sales of important demand drivers such as personal computers, cell phones, automobiles and consumer items remained under pressure.

“Inventory levels are very low and there are some signs that forward visibility is improving,” Scalise concluded.

SIA said the Economic Recovery Act recently passed by the Congress and signed by President Obama and measures adopted in other countries have the potential to drive future demand for semiconductors while addressing important issues such as energy, health care, and infrastructure improvements.

About the SIA Global Sales Report

The SIA Global Sales Report (GSR) is a three-month moving average of sales activity. The GSR is tabulated by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization, an independent, non-profit organization established by the global semiconductor industry to compile industry statistics. The moving average is a mathematical smoothing technique that mitigates variations due to differences in companies’ financial calendars.

January 2009
Billions
Month-to-Month Sales
Market		Last Month		Current Month		% Change
Americas		2.70		2.55		-5.3%
Europe		2.55		2.27		-10.8%
Japan		3.74		3.23		-13.5%
Asia Pacific		8.42		7.27		-13.7%
Total		17.41		15.33		-11.9%
Year-to-Year Sales
Market		Last Year		Current Month		% Change
Americas		3.44		2.55		-25.9%
Europe		3.44		2.27		-33.9%
Japan		4.10		3.23		-21.2%
Asia Pacific		10.49		7.27		-30.7%
Total		21.47		15.33		-28.6%
Three-Month-Moving Average Sales
Market		Aug / Sep / Oct		Nov / Dec / Jan		% Change
Americas		3.21		2.55		-20.4%
Europe		3.42		2.27		-33.5%
Japan		4.23		3.23		-23.6%
Asia Pacific		11.64		7.27		-37.5%
Total		22.49		15.33		-31.8%

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