Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose 6.4 percent in April in a sign of life for the beleaguered market.
The better-than-expected increase from March was the result of an improvement in end-product demand and a boost in inventory replenishment, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
In particular, the PC market has been stronger than predicted earlier this year, with consensus forecasts now projecting a 6 percent decline compared with the earlier forecasts for a 12 percent decline.
The cell phone market also appears more resilient. The outlook is for a 7 percent decline compared with earlier estimates for a 15 percent drop.
PCs and cell phones account for 60 percent of semiconductor consumption.
The SIA said April sales were $15.6 billion. They are still 25 percent below sales in the same month last year.
Sales still down 25 percent from last year, the Semiconuctor Industry Associagion says
