SANTA CLARA, CA – Momentum behind tablet (slate) PC shipments is growing, with a year-over-year increase of nearly 200% to 55.7 million units expected in 2011, according to DisplaySearch.

Though growth rates will slow during the forecast period, the slate PC share of the overall mobile PC market, which also includes notebooks and mini-notes, will rise to nearly 35%, or 172.4 million units, by 2014, says the firm. Total shipments of the mobile PC market are expected to reach 503.8 million units by 2014.

DisplaySearch expects 7" wide, 10" standard, and 10" wide to be the dominant screen sizes used by new products in the coming years.

Mobile PC shipment growth is expected to be in the double-digit range throughout the forecast period, peaking in 2011, at 30.4% year-over-year, and gradually declining to 17.7% growth in 2014.

TEMPE, AZ – Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the 18th consecutive month, says the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI was 60.8%, up 2.3 percentage points sequentially. A reading above 50% indicates the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.

New orders hit 67.8%, up 5.8 points, while production registered 63.5%, up a slight 0.5 points. Inventories in January were 52.4%, up 0.6 points, and customer inventories grew 5.5 points to 45.5%. Backlogs went up 11 percentage points to reach 58%.

“The manufacturing sector grew at a faster rate in January, as the PMI registered 60.8%, which is its highest level since May 2004 when the index registered 61.4%. The continuing strong performance is highlighted as January is also the sixth consecutive month of month-over-month growth in the sector. New orders and production continue to be strong, and employment rose above 60% for the first time since May 2004. Global demand is driving commodity prices higher, particularly for energy, metals and chemicals,” said ISM spokesperson Norbert J. Ore. 

The overall economy grew for the 20th consecutive month, according to the firm.

WASHINGTON -- National Association of Manufacturers president and CEO Jay Timmons applauded President Obama’s emphasis on competing in the global marketplace, but said government must pull back on regulation and taxes.

TOYKO -- The first-day crowds at InterNepcon Japan, held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center last week, were enough to make getting through the aisles difficult. The following two days, navigation was even more demanding. The electronics industry in Japan is back in gear again.