Business update, semiconductor equipment.

Purchasing, July, 1999

The ratio of orders to shipments (book-to-bill) for the North American semiconductor equipment industry slipped in May, says Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI). SEMI says producers received $124 in orders for every $100 worth of products shipped, putting the book-to-bill at 1.24.

The ratio is considered a key health measure for the boom-bust industry now recovering from a two-year downturn. Actual shipments in May totaled $1.148 billion while new orders totaled $1.427 billion.