Chip Sales Rise in March, but Pricing Pressures Weigh on Sector

Global semiconductor sales rose 1% in March to $20.3 billion and 3.2% in the first quarter to $61 billion, though average selling prices fell as manufacturers cut some prices to keep market share, according to industry data released on Monday.

The Semiconductor Industry Association said that first-quarter global chip sales fell by 6.5% from the fourth quarter of last year, as microprocessor revenues fell 13%.

DRAM sales declined by just over 8% from the last quarter of 2006.

"Sales for the year to date are running slightly ahead of last year's record level, but well short of the 10% growth projected in the forecast issued by SIA last November," said SIA President George Scalise.