WASHINGTON — Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose 8.8% year-over-year in January, marking the industry’s highest-ever January sales total and the largest year-to-year increase in nearly three years. The 90-day moving average sales reached $26.28 billion in January, the Semiconductor Industry Association today announced, down 1.4% from December on normal seasonal trends.

Regionally, sales in the Americas increased 17.3% compared to last January, while Europe was up 11.3% and Asia Pacific was up 8.3%. Japan slumped 4.7%.

Sales were flat in Europe compared to the previous month, but decreased 0.6% in slightly in Asia Pacific, 2.3% in Japan and 3.5% in the Americas. January sales historically are lower than December sales due to seasonal trends.

"The global semiconductor industry has built on its record revenues from 2013 with an impressive start to 2014, led largely by continued strength in the Americas market,” said Brian Toohey, president and CEO, SIA. "Sales in January were up across most regions and nearly all product categories compared to last January, which bodes well for continued growth during the rest of 2014.”

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