Electronic component orders hold steady in June

ARLINGTON, Va., July 10, 2008 – Among all the dire economic news, electronic component orders held steady in June, according to the monthly index compiled by the Electronic Components Association (ECA).  The June order index coincided almost exactly with the 12-month average, which has been moving up ever so slightly.

The results synchronize with recent analyst reports from the technology sector, a major customer for electronic components.  Forrest Research reports that tech sales to corporations have increased by three percent over last year, while consumer sales are flat.  While this is a far cry from recent years of 10 percent growth or more annually, it allays fears of a technology bust similar to 2001.

“I think the industry learned a lot as a result of the Great Train Wreck of 2001,” says Bob Willis, ECA president.  “The supply chain is much more transparent, and there is a better grasp of market realities.  While our industry is not immune to overall economic trends, technology products play a critical role in most industries and in society as a whole, making them less susceptible to the current slowdown."