Sales dropped sharply processors around the world.

The volume of total sales in the semiconductor industry in December 2008 amounted to 17.41 billion dollars, writes The Wall Street Journal. This 17 per cent less than in November and 22 per cent less than in December 2007.
In the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for about half the market, sales fell by 22 percent, as well as world averages. In Europe, sales of chips fell by 28 per cent in the U.S. - 26 per cent in Japan - on 13.
The reason for falling sales was the decline in demand from end users who buy over 50 percent of semiconductor production. Because of this, the market of semiconductors is seriously dependent on the solvency of the buyer and consumer confidence.
In October 2008, experts iSuppli predicted that the market of semiconductors for the year will grow by only 3.5 percent instead of four, and market microprocessors - to 0.4 percent instead of 2.7. Recent data show a reduction of sales as a result of 2008 to 2,8 percent.