semiconductor sales

After two years of go-go growth in the semiconductor sector as customers restocked lean inventories, the industry is expected to post more modest growth in 2011 as it faces lower average selling prices for chips and the cyclical demand for semiconductors hits a lull.

Semiconductor sales worldwide rose more than 50% in the first half of the year, the Semiconductor Industry Association announced Monday, but investors shouldn't assume that implies a slam dunk for the second half.

Semiconductor sales hit $23.1 billion in March, further solidifying the industry's growth after a brutal downturn a year ago, according to the closely watched Semiconductor Industry Association report. It was the second-best period on record after November 2007.