North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.23 billion in orders in December 2007 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.89 according to the December 2007 Book-to-Bill Report published today by SEMI. A book-to-bill of 0.89 means that $89 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in December 2007 was $1.23 billion. The bookings figure is about nine percent greater than the final November 2007 level of $1.13 billion and 18 percent less than the $1.50 billion in orders posted in December 2006.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in December 2007 was $1.38 billion. The billings figure is about flat with the final November 2007 level of $1.38 billion and about seven percent less than the December 2006 billings level of $1.48 billion.

"In 2007, North American equipment makers experienced a modest two percent growth in their global billings," said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. "Most recent booking levels are 18 percent below one year ago, and reflect the general expectation that capital expenditures will be about 10 percent lower in 2008."

The SEMI book-to-bill is a ratio of three-month moving averages of worldwide bookings and billings for North American-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers. Billings and bookings figures are in millions of U.S. dollars.