US orders increase slightly
Electronic component orders in the US rebounded in December after a slight dip in November, according to the four to five-week index compiled by the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association (ECA).
The 12 month average, which compares results to the previous year, continued its slight upward movement.
“The order index movement over the last few months has been similar to 2005,” says Bob Willis, ECA president. “Overall, 2006 was a positive, but not spectacular, year, with growth in the mid single digits.”
A central challenge in 2007, according to Willis, will be whether innovation and quality will enable electronic component manufacturers to maintain decent profit margins, or whether the industry will be dominated by slim margin commodity products designed and manufactured in low cost regions of the world.
