The modest downturn did not create alarm, especially since it was caused primarily by lower results in the first week of October, after which orders rebounded nicely through the end of the month, the ECA reports.

New cars, mobile phones, PDAs, TVs and other consumer items are packing in more components than ever, the ECA says. Sebastien Rospide of consulting firm Decision reported that the newest generation of flat-panel TVs incorporate between 2,500 to 3,000 passive components, while older-style CRTs use anywhere from 300 to 500. Rospide forecasts 8.5% growth in world electronics production this year, which will drive 6.5% growth for electronic components.