Semiconductor equipment sales to decline 11.6% in 2005

Sales of semiconductor equipment are expected to decline 11.6% in 2005 to $33.2 bln, a milder decline than the 15.3% previously forecast, according to Gartner. Equipment spending is forecast to decline by 6.5% in 2006 compared with 2005, before recovering in 2007 and 2008.