BANNOCKBURN, IL - IPC, Association Connecting Electronics Industries said today that rigid PCB shipments in North America are down 12.8 percent. Further the overall bookings are down 11.8 percent April 2007 versus April 2006. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are down 9.9 percent and bookings are down 18.9 percent. Compared to March, rigid PCB shipments slipped 15.5 percent and rigid bookings were down 12.6 percent.

”The April slowdown is a seasonal pattern we see just about every year," said IPC President Denny McGuirk. "This year, however, the industry is also affected by a cooling economy. Overall PCB sales in the first four months of 2007 are running about nine percent below the same period in 2006, but the positive book-to-bill ratios are signs of near-term stability in the North American PCB industry."

While some feel the book-to-bill ratio indicates stability, the first quarter results, coupled with April's poor showing, may be a sign that further contraction is coming.