May's worldwide chips sales rose 0.7 per cent on the previous month's total, $19.61bn, to reach $19.75bn, the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said last night. May's figure was up by 9.4 per cent on the May 2005's total, $18.05bn.

The monthly figures are based on three-month averages, a process the SIA claims leads to more accurate numbers. May's figure represents something of a resurgence after April's dip - March's sales totalled $19.7bn, up from $19.6bn in the short month of February.

Last month, the SIA said it expects 2006's world semiconductor sales to hit $249.8bn, 9.8 per cent on 2005's $227.5bn total. Earlier this year, the SIA forecast growth of 7.9 per cent for 2006. ®