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SAN JOSE, Dec. 31 -- November worldwide sales of semiconductors grew to $19.02 billion, up 1.3% from October. Sales were up 18% over last year, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today.

November saw "strong growth in sales of microprocessors, digital signal processors, DRAMs, and flash memory devices," said SIA President George Scalise. "Sales of personal computers typically peak in the fourth quarter. Strength in microprocessors and DRAMs indicate PC sales reflect normal seasonal patterns. The wireless handset market has been somewhat stronger than recent forecasts, as evidenced by growth in DSP and flash memory products.

Capacity utilization declined modestly, but remains above 90%, SIA said.

"Actions taken by both customers and semiconductor manufacturers to address excess inventories in some market sectors appear to have been effective. We expect that excess inventories will not be a significant concern by the end of the first quarter of 2005," Scalise said.

Sales were up in all geographic regions except the Americas, where sales declined 1.6% from October.

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