ATLANTA – The electronic component sales outlook was stable in March and is expected to remain so during the current month, according to the ECIA’s monthly survey of passive component vendors.

The March sales index dipped slightly sequentially to 112.5, down 70 basis points. The April forecast points to a modest further decline to 111.3, maintaining what ECIA calls a “positive stable assessment” as the year progresses.

Semiconductor sentiment weakened, with the category dropping to 100 in March, particularly dragged down by MCU/MPU sentiment, which neared 80. All other component categories stayed at or above 100, however, and the April forecast expects semiconductors to rebound to nearly 113, with MCU/MPU returning to 100.

Among the vendor segments, distributors were most upbeat, followed by manufacturers and their representatives, which reported more cautious outlooks. End-market sentiment declined, with the index falling to 105.6 in April. Automotive, consumer electronics and computers remain under the 100 mark, while industrial, medical and avionics/military/space maintain positive readings.

Lead times held steady in March. Despite mixed short-term sentiment, ECIA maintains long-term optimism, citing ongoing tech innovation as a strong driver of future demand.