BANNOCKBURN, IL — Year-on-year sales growth across the global electronics supply chain was mixed in the second quarter, but is now moving in a positive direction, according to the latest data from IPC.

According to the trade group, leading indicators in North America show signs of stalled growth in the economy in the second quarter, but point to a resumption of modest growth in the second half of 2012.

The data come despite reduced growth forecasts from China and continued worries about Greece. Although domestic growth in China is showing resilience, exports remained sluggish in the second quarter due to the slow recovery in the US and contracting economy in Europe, IPC said.

Year-over-year PCB and semiconductor sales growth rates in North America remained negative in the second quarter of 2012, while EMS, wet chemistry and solder were positive, showing signs of recovery. The North American PCB book-to-bill ratio remained above parity in the second quarter. At the global level, sales growth in the electronics supply chain slowed its downward trend.

The downward headwind afflicting the global economy appears to be spilling into the electronics manufacturing sector, slowing the industry’s earlier rebound. Second quarter indicators and the first July numbers available for North America predict slow growth for the current quarter.

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