June Semiconductor Sales Slide 1.6%

Semiconductor sales were down 1.6% worldwide in June from a year earlier because of sluggish sales of personal computers, the Semiconductor Industry Assn. said.

For the second quarter overall, chip sales totaled $11.35 billion, down from $11.54 billion in the year-earlier quarter but up from $10.73 billion in the first quarter.

The rise in sales from the first quarter was driven mostly by recovering demand in Asia.

The association said it expects full-year 2002 sales to rise 3% from 2001. It forecast 23% growth in 2003.