World chip sales hit $22.7bn in November 2006, the US-centric Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said yesterday. The figure marks an 11.3 per cent increase over November 2005's $20.4bn total and is 3.1 per cent higher than the previous month yielded.

Once again, November's numbers broke the monthly sales record. November's sales brings 2006's running total to $225.1bn, already well up on 2005's full-year sales, which reached $205.7bn, according to the SIA.

The SIA reckons 2006's full-year sales will reach $248.8bn, up 9.4 per cent on 2005's total. So it's forecasting December 2006 sales of $23.7bn, up four per cent on November's sales. This year, world chip sales are forecast to hit $273.8bn, up ten per cent on 2006. ®