Electronics sales reflect slowing economy, IPC reports

The crisis in the housing and mortgage markets continues to raise concerns about the risk of recession for the weakening US economy, IPC reports.

Staff Reporter -- Electronic Business, 3/18/2008

Editor’s note: The following information is provided by IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries from its quarterly business report, the Supply Chain Tracker. Other industry data can be found at www.ipc.org.

The year 2008 has begun with a dimmed outlook for the US economy.

The crisis in the housing and mortgage markets continues to raise concerns about the risk of recession for the weakening US economy. The trend is reflected in US new orders for January 2008.

Semiconductor shipments continue to slow down due to seasonal and weaker business conditions. PCB shipments reflect a similar pattern. Although EMS shipments are down this month, the long-term outlook remains positive with ever increasing global demand for consumer electronics.

Trends in computer and electronic products new orders vs. sales indices of selected supplier industries, February 2007 to January 2008

Note on the graph:  All indices are based on the same baseline of the average month in 2000=100, and reflect a three-month rolling average.

Sources: IPC statistical programs for the EMS and PCB industries; SIA for semiconductor data; US Census Bureau for US new orders for computer and electronic products.