Semiconductor Orders, Deliveries Up in Month

Orders and shipments in the United States for domestic and foreign semiconductors increased 8.8% during December, a trade association said Tuesday.

The Semiconductor Industry Assn. said December orders or bookings totaled $783.8 million, 8.8% higher than in November; 65.5% higher than a cyclical low set in September, 1985, and 29.8% higher than a year earlier.

The association did not provide figures on orders for the entire fourth quarter or the full year 1986.

Billings or shipments totaled $786.1 million, 14.7% higher than in November; 41.4% higher than a cyclical low set in January, 1986, and 18.4% higher than one year ago, the association said.

Total U.S. market shipments for the fourth quarter of 1986 were estimated at $2.17 billion, 1.6% less than the $2.20 billion in the third quarter.

Total shipments for the full year 1986 were estimated at $8.5 billion, up 5% from $8.1 billion in 1985.

Average monthly billings for the three-month period ending in December were valued at $724.5 million.