FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide tablet shipments contracted 8.5% year-over-year in the first quarter, according to preliminary data from IDC.

CUPERTINO, CA – Apple set up a $1 billion fund directed toward bringing advanced manufacturing jobs to the US, said Apple CEO Tim Cook, according to published reports.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Total North American PCB orders in March decreased 6.7% year-over-year, pushing year-to-date orders down to 1.7% below the same period last year, says IPC. Orders were up 12.8% sequentially.

WASHINGTON — Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose 18.1% year-over-year in March, reaching $30.9 billion.