UK component market shows slow growth, says ecsn
Performance figures released by The Electronic Components Supply Network (ecsn) reveal a 2% monthly decline in distribution billings for the UK component market in February 2011.
ecsn chairman Adam Fletcher believes the rate of growth will continue to slow in line with the level of bookings growth achieved and predicts it will continue to do so throughout the first half of 2011. "The consensus opinion is that customer demand in the UK and Eire remains stronger than anticipated and difficult to accurately forecast," he said. "I do however suspect that the billings figures for Q1 2011 will show only a very modest growth.
According to Fletcher, the decline in distributor inventory levels by a further 1% reflects actual customer demand and prudent purchasing practices, but as electronic components manufacturers are now catching up with anticipated demand, he says overall inventory levels in the industry are 'bound to rise'.
