Records were set for both sales and orders of electronic products and services in the 1987 year, the the fourth quarter, and in December, reports the American Electronics Association. For 1987, sales were up 6.1% at $244,000m; fourth quarter sales were also up 6.1% at $66,300m, and December sales rose 6.6% at $24,400m. Orders for 1987 were 6.7% up at $246,500m, just ahead of the sales figure for the year; in the fourth quarter, orders were up 8.3% at $66,500m but December orders were worryingly only 2% up at $24,100m. The San Jose-based Association notes the fourth quarter and December figures both reflect continued cautious buying in the computer segment. Growth rate in orders for semiconductors, while exceptionally strong for most of 1987, slowed markedly in December and it reckons that growth in chip sales will level off in the next few months, but computer sales should rise.
