(Associated Press via NewsEdge) Worldwide semiconductor sales rose 9.2% in January, boosted by better-than-expected cell phone shipments and strong sales of personal computers, digital cameras and music players, an industry group said.
Chip sales were $21.47 billion in January, up from $19.66 billion in January 2006, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Sales for the month showed a seasonal 1.2% decline from December.
'Purchasers of personal computers continue to reap large benefits from the steady decline in prices of semiconductors achieved through advances in technology,' said SIA president George Scalise in a statement.
Cell phone shipments reached 1.02 billion units in 2006, according to final figures, above earlier estimates.
'Concerns about inventories in the previous quarter appear to have worked themselves out, and the forecast for unit growth in the range of 10 to 15 % for 2007 appears to be realistic,' Scalise added.
San Jose-based SIA has represented US chip manufacturers since 1977.
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