REDWOOD CITY, CA -- Sales of software for printed circuit board and multichip module design rose 2.4% year-over-year to $241.1 million in the fourth quarter.

The four-quarters moving average for PCB & MCM increased 8.1%, according to the Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance Market Statistics Service.

The four-quarters moving average compares the most recent four quarters to the prior four quarters.

It was the seventh time in the past eight quarters sales of PCB and MC design software have risen year-over-year.

Overall electronic design automation industry revenue increased 10.7% to $2.72 billion. The four-quarters moving average increased 9.5%.

"The EDA industry reported increases in all product categories in Q4, with double digit increases in CAE, IC physical design and verification, and semiconductor IP," said Wally Rhines, ESD Alliance spokesperson and president and CEO of Mentor. "This represents eight consecutive years of industry growth. Geographically, the Americas and Asia-Pacific reported double-digit growth in 2017."

Companies that were tracked employed 39,363 professionals last quarter, an increase of 9.8% compared to the 36,412 employed in the fourth quarter 2016, and up 2.4% compared to the third quarter 2017.

By segment, computer-aided engineering (CAE) generated revenue of $848.1 million in the quarter, a 12% increase year-over-year. The four-quarters moving average for CAE increased 7.8%. IC Physical Design & Verification revenue was up 11% year-over-year to $549.8 million. The four-quarters moving average increased 6%. Semiconductor intellectual property (SIP) revenue totaled $961.5 million, up 12.3%. The four-quarters moving average increased 14.4%.

Services revenue was $118.1 million in the quarter, up 7.2%. The four-quarters moving average rose 3%.

By region, the Americas purchased $1.26 billion of EDA products and services, up 19.5% from a year ago. The four-quarters moving average for the Americas increased 10.9%. Revenue in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) decreased 0.9% on revenues of $386.3 million, while its four-quarters moving average increased 4.6%.

Fourth-quarter revenue from Japan rose 0.5% to $228.9 million, and the four-quarters moving average increased 3.2%. Asia/Pacific (APAC) region revenue increased 7.8% to $850.7 million. The four-quarters moving average increased 12%.

Listen to the latest PCB Chat podcast, this week with Manny Marcano of EMA.