LOS ANGELES, April 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Worldwide microchip sales reached 18.1 billion US dollars in February, up 15.8 percent from the same month a year ago, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA)said on Monday.

    But the figure was 2 percent below the revised January chip sales of 18.4 billion dollars, said SIA, a trade group, noting that February is normally one of the weaker months for chip sales.     

    The group also reported that the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization boosted the three-month rolling average number. Data released last month indicated a slight sequential decline in sales, but the revised data indicated that January sales were essentially flat with December sales.

    "Worldwide sales of semiconductors have been stronger than expected during first two months of 2005," said SIA President George Scalise. "Flat sales in January followed by a modest sequential decline in February are actually encouraging signs given that these two months are normally slow periods for the industry."

    Scalise noted that according SIA estimates, half of all semiconductor consumption in 2004 was driven by purchases of products by individuals.

    "The semiconductor content of a vast array of products purchased by individual consumers - from automobiles to personal communications devices and home entertainment systems - has risen dramatically in recent years," Scalise said.

    "As a result, our industry is paying closer attention to indicators of consumer confidence," he said. "At this time, those indicators appear to be positive." Enditem