IPC Quarterly Report Reveals Industry-wide Slowdown in Sales Growth

China continues to lead the major industrial countries with 9.5 percent growth in gross domestic product in the second quarter of 2011, down slightly from first quarter. U.S. economic growth in the second quarter was an annualized 1.3 percent and the euro zone’s growth was just 0.2 percent. The ending of stimulus programs combined with the debt crisis in Europe and the continuation of high unemployment in the USA are putting the brakes on economic recovery. Most leading economic indicators show a continuation of this trend through the remainder of 2011.

In the electronics supply chain, the numbers look better, but growth is still slowing. The second quarter showed solid year-on-year sales growth in the assembly equipment, EMS and laminate industries, and modest growth in process consumables. Solder a
nd semiconductor sales worldwide in the second quarter were slightly below 2010 figures.
IPC has integrated the data trends of all key segments of the electronic interconnect industry with leading indicators to create the IPC Index of North American Performance. The index for second quarter 2011 fell to a moderate 4.3, indicating that growth rates have returned to more normal levels. This index is updated quarterly and published in every issue of Electronics Industries Market Data Update.

Subscribers and IPC members also receive an interactive graph with every edition of Electronics Industries Market Data Update. Users may download the graph and securely enter their sales growth rates to see how those rates compare to the growth averages of various segments of the electronics industry.

The Electronics Industries Market Data Update is published quarterly and is available as a free benefit of IPC membership or by paid subscription.