Chip sales up 7.6 per cent

Global sales of computer chips rose 7.6 per cent in July, the most recent month for which data has been reported, helped by strong growth in consumer electronics, personal computers and phones, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Worldwide sales were $22.178 billion, up from $20.603 billion a year ago.

"LCD displays are projected to increase 32 per cent this year, and digital set top boxes and digital still cameras will both be up around 20 per cent," said SIA President George Scalise.

Excluding memory, semiconductor sales increased by 11.6 per cent year-on-year and by 3.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter. The 7.6 percent increase , which includes memory, is down slightly from the eight per cent increase marked in June.

The SIA reported that sales of DRAM and NAND flash memory continued to slip as a result of continuing price erosion.

Separately, research firm Gartner said that any rebound in global chip demand could be delayed until 2010 as demand shrinks in the second half of this year and worldwide economic conditions worsen.