The summer was flat for the component world. Recovery remains elusive.

The EIA's Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA) reports little or no movement in its August electronic component index, which closes out the summer on a flat note.

While no bad news is good news for some, the much-anticipated recovery in the second half of the year has been pushed back to the last four months, said Bob Willis, ECA president. "The economy and electronic component sales are both waiting on optimists to outnumber the pessimists, while most linger somewhere in between."

The distribution channel continues to struggle with an inventory surplus of last year's products, he added. "Manufacturers and distributors are having trouble moving these inventories as demand increases for newer and smaller components."

The ECA represents manufacturers and producers of passive and active electronic components, component arrays and assemblies, and materials and support services, and is a sector of the EIA.

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