<<Was anyone else shocked that it was so low?>>
I'm not sure we should be 'shocked' but the fact that the industry had a very measly, and very brief, 'recovery' during the spring and summer, and it's now back at a level of contraction equal to last year, indicates this slump IS different. In fact, as bad as the BtB is this month, a better gauge of the health of the industry is the absolute booking and billing numbers - numbers which never climbed above ~50% of the levels found in 2000 and now bookings (and, soon, billings) have resumed their steep decline.
As I've said before, I believe 30-50% of the companies in the equipment space will need to disappear, by whatever means, before a truly healthy recovery will become manifest. PC demand may NEVER return to nineties-type levels and there is absolutely nothing in the wings to even closely substitute for that broad a demand.
'...that the plunge in orders actually began in August, and that the decline between July and September was probably on the order of 50%.'
Believe it. And INTC is telling us it's far from over. |
