SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- In the second quarter, worldwide sales of semiconductors slipped 20 percent year over year to $51.7 billion, the Semiconductor Industry Association said Monday.
However, chip sales increased 17 percent from the $44.2 billion recorded in the first quarter.
June chip sales were $17.2 billion in June, down 20 percent from June 2008 but up about 4 percent from May of this year.
"The fourth consecutive monthly increase in sales is one indicator the industry is returning to normal seasonal growth patterns," said George Scalise, president of the trade group, in a statement.
Scalise added that companies have been closely managing their inventories, "encouraging us to believe that the sequential increase in quarterly sales represents a gradual recovery of demand."
Chip sales of $95.9 billion in the first half of 2009 were down 25 percent from the first six months of 2008.
