WASHINGTON — Worldwide sales of semiconductors fell 14.6% year-over-year to $33.1 billion in May, a leading trade group said today.

Sales were up 1.9% over the final April total of $32.5 billion, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) announced.

Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

“Global semiconductor sales fell well short last year’s monthly total in May, marking the fifth straight month of negative sales growth on a year-to-year basis,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, SIA. “On a month-to-month basis, global sales increased modestly and sales into the Americas increased for the first time in seven months, although year-to-year sales into the Americas were down substantially.”

Regionally, sales increased on a month-to-month basis in China (5.4%), the Americas (1.4%), and Japan (0.9%), but decreased in Europe (-0.4%) and Asia Pacific/All Other (-1.1%). On a year-to-year basis, sales were down across all regional markets: Europe (-9%), China (-9.8%), Asia Pacific/All Other (-12.6%), Japan (-13.6%), and the Americas (-27.9%).

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