SAN JOSE, Nov. 22 -- The 90-day moving average for orders of semiconductor equipment from North American manufacturers rose 3% over revised September levels and 60% year-on-year, the industry trade group SEMI said today.

Respondents to SEMI's monthly poll posted $1.39 billion in orders in October. The book-to-bill ratio was 0.96, meaning that $96 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

The three-month average of worldwide billings was $1.44 billion in October, flat with revised September levels and up 67% versus a year ago.

The industry is flux, SEMI said in a statement. "The overall semiconductor equipment sector will post the second greatest gain on record in 2004. It is also several months into a period of order softening," said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO.

"Total equipment bookings for North American producers have declined 13% from the cyclic peak observed in June. Given recent announcements from several equipment companies, continued moderation in orders is expected until end market visibility strengthens for the semiconductor manufacturers."