Worldwide semiconductor sales totaled $109 billion for the first six months of 2005, an increase of 6.5% over the first six months of 2004, when total sales were $102.4 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. Sales in the second quarter of 2005 totaled $53.9 billion, down 2.1% from $55.1 billion reported in the first quarter.

"We are encouraged by the fact that sales for the first half of this year were up by 6.5% over the same period of 2004," said SIA President George Scalise. "The strongest growth in 2004 occurred in the first half of the year. In contrast, we expect the strongest growth in 2005 will occur in the second half of the year."