Month-to-Month Sales 
 Market    Oct 1998  Nov 1998 % Change
 Americas    3.616    3.686       1.9 
 Europe      2.581    2.768       7.3 
 Japan       2.146    2.296       7.0 
 Asia        2.513    2.635       4.8 
 Pacific   
 Total     $10.856  $11.385       4.9 %
           Billion  Billion     

                       Year-to-Year Monthly Sales 
 Market    Nov 1997  Nov 1998  % Change 
 Americas    3.975     3.686      -7.3 
 Europe      2.690     2.768       2.9 
 Japan       2.716     2.296     -15.5 
 Asia        2.734     2.635      -3.6 
 Pacific     
 Total     $12.114   $11.385      -6.0 %
           Billion   Billion    
     
                                  
                Rolling Three-Month Average Sales 
 Market     June/July/Aug    Sept/Oct/Nov    % Change
 Americas     3.313             3.686           11.3 
 Europe       2.230             2.768           24.1 
 Japan        2.006             2.296           14.4 
 Asia         2.006             2.635           16.5 
 Pacific 
 Total     $9.809 Billion    $11.385 Billion    16.1 %
*Note: Some numbers may not add due to rounding. 

January 8, 1999 #1 

WORLD CHIP SALES SURGED 5 PERCENT, OR $528 MILLION, IN
NOVEMBER; HIGHEST TOTAL SINCE DECEMBER 1997 

SAN JOSE --- World semiconductor sales jumped to $11.38 billion in November, the highest mark since
December 1997, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported today. A rally in the Japanese and
Asia-Pacific markets led total sales to a 5-percent increase from October. 

According to the SIA's Global Sales Report, sales in Japan and the Asia-Pacific climbed 7 percent and 4.8
percent, respectively. The embattled Yen appreciated considerably from October to November, rising in value
against the U.S. dollar. In Asia-Pacific, Christmas kicked off strong purchases of PC sales, boosting sales for
motherboards, of which Asia-Pacific is the leading producer. 

"November is the third consecutive month of strong chip growth, reversing a trend of sluggish sales, which
bottomed in July this year," said SIA President George Scalise. "Fourth quarter sales are surpassing our
expectations and point to a stronger close for 1998 than what was anticipated." 

Chip sales in Europe also soared in November, hiking 7.3 percent from October. Optimism over Europe's new
currency translated into capital spending in November, bolstering the European economy. In the Americas
market, sales continued a steady increase, climbing 2 percent. 

The October-November upswing of 5 percent is the biggest October-November jump since 1990. 

Sales in November 1998 are climbing back from year-ago levels. In August 1998, Japan's sales dipped 30
percent from August 1997. In November, Japan's year-over-year sales decline narrowed to 15.5 percent. Sales
in the Americas and Asia-Pacific markets decreased 7.3 and 3.6 percent, respectively, from November 1997
totals. Conversely, Europe's market, which has shown strength all year, increased 2.9 percent. 

The SIA's Global Sales Report is a three-month rolling average of sales activity. The GSR is tabulated by the
World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization, which represents 70 companies. 

For additional information, please contact Jeff Weir or Karen Snow at the SIA, 408.436.6600.