BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced that the book-to-bill for rigid PCBs dropped incrementally to 0.95; the overall PCB book-to-bill results for North America in October 2008 rose slightly to 0.96. "Rigid PCB orders and shipments declined a bit more than normal in October, due to weakening demand, but year-to-date growth over last year is still positive," said Denny McGuirk, president, IPC. "The flexible circuit segment showed strong growth in October," he added.

Rigid PCB shipments are down 5.9% and bookings are down 17.4% in October 2008 from October 2007. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are up 3.2% and bookings are down 2.5%. Compared to the previous month, rigid PCB shipments decreased 12.8% and rigid bookings decreased 17.6%. Rigid PCBs represent an estimated 90% of the current PCB industry in North America, according to IPC's World PCB Production and Laminate Market Report. The book-to-bill ratio for the North American rigid PCB industry in October 2008 slipped slightly to 0.95.

Flexible circuit shipments in October 2008 are up 8.8% and bookings are up 25.9% compared to October 2007. Year to date, flexible circuit shipments are up 9.0% and bookings are down 2.4%. Compared to the previous month, flexible circuit shipments are up 10.0% and flex bookings increased 2.5%. In October, the flexible circuit manufacturers in IPC's survey sample indicated that bare circuits accounted for approximately 68% of their shipment value reported for the month. The North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio in October 2008 jumped up to 1.00.

For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined, industry shipments in October 2008 decreased 4.8% from October 2007 and orders booked decreased 14.6% from October 2007. Year to date, combined industry shipments are up 3.6% and bookings are down 2.5%. Compared to the previous month, combined industry shipments for October 2008 are down 11.3% and bookings are down 16.0%. The combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio in October 2008 increased slightly to 0.96.

In October 2008, 87% of total PCB shipments reported were domestically produced. Domestic production accounted for 86% of rigid PCB and 91% of flexible circuit shipments in October by IPC survey participants.

For more information, visit www.ipc.org.