Gartner: Semiconductor sales to rise 20% in 2004

Worldwide computer-chip sales will rise 20% next year to the highest level since 2000, market researcher Gartner Inc. said. Sales of almost $210 billion next year will be the highest since $222 billion in 2000, Gartner said in a statement. Sales will rise 12% this year, to $174 billion.

Chipmakers Texas Instruments Inc. and Intel Corp. have said sales will rise more than 20% this quarter as a three-year slump in personal-computer sales ends and demand in Europe increases. Consumers buying PCs, MP3 audio players and mobile phones with features such as a camera have increased chip sales.