The US Semiconductor Industry Association reports that worldwide semiconductor sales fell in February for the third straight month (see News Analysis). Its new Global Billings Report which has replaced the old book-to-bill ratio, showed a 2.4% drop in February, to $10.65bn, which follows a 3.1% decline in January and a 0.9% fall in December. The numbers – from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization, show that February sales were a dull 15.5% below the $12.3bn in February 1996.
