[01/11/02]--Worldwide semiconductor sales were $36.9 billion in the third quarter of 2002, an 8.2% increase from $34.1 billion in the second quarter of this year and a 21% rise from the corresponding period of 2001, according to figures from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) late today.
"The recovery of the semiconductor industry has picked up breadth and strength as the year has progressed," said George Scalise, president of the SIA, based in San Jose, in a statement. "We achieved solid 8.2% revenue growth in the September quarter, following 5.6% sequential growth in the first quarter of 2002 and 5.8% growth in the year"s second quarter, with momentum across major product sectors, including wireless, digital consumer products, PCs and automotive."