Worldwide sales of semiconductors totaled $12.7 billion in September, marking a 6.4% rise over August and a 24% rise over year-ago levels, said the Semiconductor Industry Association and the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics group in the latest global sales report.

By region, Asia-Pacific continued to see a healthy month-to-month change, with the region logging 9.4% growth in the period. Europe was also strong with a 9% increase. Japan followed with a 5.7% increase, and the Americas saw 3.2% growth. All figures are three-month rolling averages.

On a year-to-year basis, Japan and Asia-Pacific saw 37.4% and 34.5% growth, respectively. The Americas market was up 17% over last year and sales in Europe showed a change of 12.5%, according to the SIA.

“This month&#39s global sales numbers are the largest we have seen all year, continuing the growth pattern that commenced in mid-1998,” said George Scalise, SIA president. Scalise also noted that the numbers are in line with the SIA’s forecast for 15% growth this year, which would bring worldwide semiconductor sales to an estimated 1999 total of $144 billion. — C.L.