The Semiconductor Industry Association’s book-to-bill ratio fell to 1.08 in August, from the figure of 1.15 reported in July, marking the third monthly drop in a row. The book-to-bill ratio is computed by dividing three-month average bookings in the semiconductor industry by three-month average billings. The three-month average US orders for August totalled $943.7m, down 3.8% on the July figure. Three-month average shipments through August amounted to $875.2m, a 2.4% increase on the July figure.At $885.2m August shipments alone were up 9.8% on July. President Andrew Procassini expressed pleasure at the higher than expected shipment rise and attributed the drop in orders to the historical decline we experience during the summer season.