EL SEGUNDO, CA -- A leading research firm today lowered its outlook for electronics equipment, although the revised growth remains solid for 2008.

Global electronics equipment revenue is expected to rise to $1.6 trillion in 2008, up 6.6% from 2007, iSuppli said. The firm trimmed 40 basis points from its previous forecast of 7% growth. The firm expects 2009 growth of 5.3%.

Equipment revenue will be impacted by economic concerns and reductions in capital spending, the firm said.

On the strength of a second-half surge in sales, particularly for notebook PCs and 3G handsets, iSuppli raised its 2007 electronics equipment growth forecast to 7.4%, up from 6.8%. Notebooks and 3G handsets, and digital TV sales are expected to slow in 2008.