-
-
News
News Highlights
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Hole Truth: Via Integrity in an HDI World
From the drilled hole to registration across multiple sequential lamination cycles, to the quality of your copper plating, via reliability in an HDI world is becoming an ever-greater challenge. This month we look at “The Hole Truth,” from creating the “perfect” via to how you can assure via quality and reliability, the first time, every time.
In Pursuit of Perfection: Defect Reduction
For bare PCB board fabrication, defect reduction is a critical aspect of a company's bottom line profitability. In this issue, we examine how imaging, etching, and plating processes can provide information and insight into reducing defects and increasing yields.
Voices of the Industry
We take the pulse of the PCB industry by sharing insights from leading fabricators and suppliers in this month's issue. We've gathered their thoughts on the new U.S. administration, spending, the war in Ukraine, and their most pressing needs. It’s an eye-opening and enlightening look behind the curtain.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
IPC Chief Economist’s Industry Forecast for 2024
December 26, 2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute

To better understand the current economic situation for electronics manufacturing, we brought in Shawn DuBravac, IPC chief economist, to provide an update with a high level global economic outlook. As you might expect, the seas have been a bit turbulent in the aftermath of the pandemic. Shawn breaks down the headwinds and the tailwinds of an economy in flux, and what it means for you.
Barry Matties: Shawn, give us a brief review of 2023.
Shawn DuBravac: The U.S. economy held up much better in 2023 than we anticipated and showed significant resiliency. Europe faltered somewhat, and that was not unexpected. In fact, we saw some growth in Europe, so one might argue that Europe held up better last year than we had anticipated. Yet, headwinds remain in Europe. The conflict in Ukraine continues to weigh on Europe.
China has faced stiffer headwinds than many anticipated. There was the expectation that, following the reopening of China early in 2023, things would pick up. We saw an initial bounce, but things have since settled, and in fact, there are some very big warning signs coming out of China right now.
Matties: When it comes to the economic forecast, what should we be concerned about?
DuBravac: Looking ahead, industry should be thinking about a few things. First, where does growth go from here? There is concern that the U.S. market will slow. We've had interest rate hikes across the globe, not just from the Federal Reserve, but from the European Central Bank and others. Ultimately, this means slower growth, and a potential recession. Those risks remain acute.
To read the rest of this article, which first appeared in the December 2023 issue of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
I-Connect007’s Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/04/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007For our industry, we have seen several bullish market announcements over the past few weeks, including one this week by IDC on the massive growth in the global server market. We’re also closely watching global trade and nearshoring. One good example of successful nearshoring is Rehm Thermal Systems, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in Mexico and the official opening of its new building in Guadalajara.
EU Defence Electronics Ecosystem Highlighted in Brussels
07/01/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn this interview, Alison James, senior director of Global Electronics Association—Europe (formerly IPC), discusses the European Defence & Security Summit in Brussels, June 9–13, as well as the first IPC–ASD Europe Defense Electronics Summit, June 10th, which brought together 70 leaders from across the electronics manufacturing supply chain. ASD is the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe, and co-hosted both the larger and smaller events.
SEMI Europe Publishes Recommendations for the REACH Revision
06/30/2025 | SEMISEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, released its official position paper on the revision of the European Union’s REACH Regulation.
Takeaways from the Keynotes at the Edinburgh EIPC Summer Conference
06/16/2025 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007It was seasonably wet and windy in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 3-4, where delegates from 17 countries convened for the 2025 EIPC Summer Conference to enjoy a superlative program of 18 technical presentations over two days, plus an excursion to a whisky distillery. EIPC President Alun Morgan welcomed everyone to the Delta Hotel, reminding us that in its previous iteration, it was the Royal Scot, traditionally the annual venue of the Institute of Circuit Technology Northern Symposium.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/13/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today is Friday the 13th, and in much of Western folklore, this is a day when bad luck is lurking. But while Friday the 13th may top Western superstition charts, the global calendar is sprinkled with its own unlucky legends. In Spain and Greece, the bad juju lands on Tuesday the 13th—a day linked to Mars, the god of war, and naturally, chaos. In Italy, it’s Friday the 17th that is feared, thanks to the Roman numeral XVII, which can be rearranged to spell VIXI—Latin for “I have lived” (a poetic way of saying you’re dead).