Semiconductor Sales Dip 4.7% Worldwide in April

Worldwide sales of semiconductors, battered this year by weakening demand for computers and other electronics, in April tumbled 4.7% from the previous month to $13.7 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Assn.

April sales were even weaker than in January, a historically weak month for chip sales. The comparison was the worst in 17 years of data, Goldman Sachs analyst Terry Ragsdale said.