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PARIS -- The electronics industry produces some €1.14 trillion worth of product last year, making it the world' second largest market, behind automotive, says a new research report.

WASHINGTON – Manufactured goods orders to US factories rose 1.8% in May, matching growth in April, the Commerce Department says.

This is a strong improvement over the economists’ expectation of a 0.6% decline.

Non-defense capital goods orders were up 4.8%, the largest increase in nearly five years.

Excluding transportation, durable goods orders were up 1.1% in May. Transportation products demand rose 3.6%, with commercial aircraft orders surging 68.1%.

However, demand for motor vehicles and parts dropped 8.1%. Machinery orders increased 7.7%, and demand for computers and related products rose 9.4%, say published reports.

Nevertheless, new home sales fell 0.6% during the month, the Commerce Department says. Sales were down nearly 33% year-over-year.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – China handset makers saw first-quarter production volume drop 12.7% from last year to 135.4 million units, reports the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC).

STAMFORD, CT – Worldwide PC shipments will drop 6% in 2009 to 274 million units, says Gartner Inc. in a revised forecast.

The firm had predicted a decline of 6.6% in May, and a 9.2% drop in March.

Gartner expects a 10% decrease in the second and third quarters, but predicts growth in the fourth quarter compared to 2008.

The firm also expects shipments to increase 10.3% in 2010.

Netbooks are expected to reach 21 million units in 2009 and 30 million next year, the firm says.

Gartner forecasts mobile PC units to increase 4.1% in 2009, but expects revenue to fall 12.8%. Desktops are expected to decrease 15.7%, with a 26.6% drop in spending.