San Jose, Calif. - Global sales of semiconductors are expected to decline next year for the first time since 2001, according to a new forecast from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

The organization is projecting that 2009 sales will decline by 5.6% to $246.7 billion before resuming growth in 2010.

"The current global economic turmoil is clearly having a significant impact on semiconductor sales," said George Scalise, president of the SIA.

"The fortunes of the semiconductor industry are increasingly tied to consumer spending on electronic products. Consumer purchases now drive well over half of worldwide semiconductor sales."

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