SAN JOSE -- Sales of printed circuit board and multichip module design software fell 7.6% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, the EDA Consortium reported today.

Overall segment revenue was $176.2 million for the period, EDAC added. The four-quarters moving average, which compares the most recent four quarters to the prior four quarters, for PCB and MCM software increased 5.1%.

Overall electronic design automation industry revenue increased 11.9% to a record $2.1 billion, up from $1.88 billion a year ago. Sequentially EDA revenue increased 15.1% while the four-quarters moving average increased 7.3%. 

"The fourth quarter revenue represents both a record quarter and the culmination of a record year for the EDA industry," said Wally Rhines, board sponsor for the EDAC MSS and chairman and CEO of Mentor Graphics. "IC physical design and semiconductor IP both reported double-digit growth. Geographically, the Americas as well as Asia-Pacific had record quarters with double digit growth in those regions."

Companies that were tracked employed a record 31,735 professionals in the period, up 6.2% from 2013 and up 0.3% sequentially.

The largest category, Computer-Aided Engineering, generated revenue of $699.5 million in the fourth quarter, up 3.1% from 2013. The four-quarters moving average for CAE decreased 1.3%. IC Physical Design and Verification revenue jumped 25.9% to was $483.7 million. The four-quarters moving average increased 4.7%. Semiconductor Intellectual Property (SIP) revenue totaled $642.8 million, a 32% increase year-over-year. The four-quarters moving average increased 22.1%.

Services revenue was $101.6 million, up 4.9%, and the four-quarters moving average increased 6.1%.

The Americas, EDA's largest region, purchased $935.4 million of EDA products and services in the December quarter, up 13.8%. The four-quarters moving average for the Americas increased 10.4%. Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) was flat compared to 2013 on revenues of $328.9 million. The EMEA four-quarters moving average increased 3.6%.

Fourth-quarter revenue from  Japan decreased 19.5% to $206.8, while the four-quarters moving average decreased 17.8%. Asia/Pacific region revenue increased to $632.9 million, an increase of 33.9% compared to the fourth quarter 2013. The four-quarters moving average increased 18%.