IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries® has announced the March 2017 findings from its monthly North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. Although sales and orders continued below last year’s levels, the PCB book-to-bill ratio continued upward, reaching 1.07.

Total North American PCB shipments in March 2017 were down 4.7 percent compared to the same month last year. This year to date, shipments are 3.8 percent below the same period last year. Compared to the preceding month, March shipments increased 21.8 percent.

PCB bookings in March decreased 6.7 percent year-on-year, pushing year-to-date bookings down to 1.7 percent below the same period last year. Bookings were up 12.8 percent compared to the previous month.

“North America PCB sales continued below last year’s level in March, while year-on-year order growth fell back into negative territory after a brief upturn in February,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research. “The good news is that the book-to-bill ratio continued to climb, albeit due to weaker performance in sales than in orders in the first quarter, but positive ratios may indicate strengthening PCB sales in the next several months,” she added.