LONDON — Global sales of semiconductors rose to $16.5 billion in May, an increase of 5.4 percent from April when sales were $15.6 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). May sales were 23.2 percent lower than May 2008 when sales were $21.5 billion.

The figures are based on statistics gathered by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average of chip shipments.

"The May sales numbers reflect the third-consecutive month of sequential growth for the semiconductor industry," commented SIA President George Scalise. "The sequential monthly increases lead us to be cautiously optimistic about a return to normal seasonal patterns for the industry going forward."

According to Bruce Diesen, senior analysts at Carnegie ASA (Oslo, Norway), actual sales fell 20.2 percent, compared with an anticipated decline of 18.4 percent. This follows a fall of 15.5 percent year-on-year in April.

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