Strong semiconductor sales growth was predicted.

U.S. sales this year are edging up at a modest 7% rate to an expected total of $8.7 billion by year-end, far below last year’s forecast of a 25% rise, executives were told at this year’s Semiconductor Industry Assn. forecast dinner. However, the report by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics predicted that U.S. chip sales will rise 21.7% in 1987 and leap another 28.1% in 1988 to $13.5 billion. Worldwide sales will jump from $26.5 billion in 1986 to $31.9 billion in 1987, $39.1 billion in 1988 and $42.4 billion in 1989, according to the report. Last year, the WSTS report predicted that a worldwide sales recovery of 18% in 1986 would yield sales of $25.5 billion, followed by increases of about 23% in 1987 and 1988.