BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PCB shipments in September were down 14.6% compared to the same month last year and were up 35.7% compared to August, according to IPC's North American PCB Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.01.

PCB bookings in September were down 32.7% compared to the same month last year. September bookings were up 45% compared to the preceding month.

"The PCB book-to-bill is relatively unchanged this month as both shipments and bookings rose," said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist. "However, this masks weak bookings that have finally pushed the year-to-date shipment trend negative for the first time this year."

The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.