ARLINGTON, VA -- Worldwide electronic component orders took a breather in October, dipping slightly while the 12-month average remained flat.
The October report could indicate a "breath of caution" after two months of market increases, said Bob Willis, president of the Electronic Components Association, which compiles the monthly index.

“We could be seeing companies preserving their cash positions during a period in which the market has stabilized,” said Willis in a press release today. “We saw a similar breather in early summer, before the market began its recovery again.”

The report is derived from order information collected in confidence from leading electronics component manufacturers.