BANNOCKBURN, IL -- North American electronics manufacturing services (EMS) shipments in August were up 14.9% compared to a year ago and 9.5% sequentially.

EMS bookings in August decreased 14.1% year-over-year and decreased 8.2% from the previous month.

The book-to-bill ratio for the month was 1.31, down eight basis points, IPC said. The book-to-bill is calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests that demand is ahead of supply, and is considered an indicator of future growth.

“We continue to see order strength diminish, in line with a slowing economy and slowing demand for durable goods. At the same time, supply chain constraints, while still pronounced, appear to be easing somewhat and as a result shipment throughput has improved,” said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist, IPC.

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