Total reported sales for all relay categories in North America for the fourth quarter of 2014 were 3% lower than the previous quarter and up 10% from the same quarter of 2013. Sales units for Q4 2014 ran 3% below units sold in Q3 and 7% more than Q3 of 2013.
The total booking dollars reported for all relay categories in North America for Q4 2014 came in less than the previous quarter by 2%, and up 5% from Q4 2013. The fourth quarter’s book-to-bill ratio for dollars was 0.889. Booking units in Q4 2014 were 5% above Q3. The second quarter’s book-to-bill ratio for units was 0.956.
In the fourth quarter of 2014 sales were down in dollars and units for EMRs and SSRs. ASPs were up for EMRs and unchanged in total. In total dollars and units decreased 3%. When compared to the fourth quarter of last year EMRs were up in dollars and units and the opposite for SSRs. ASPs were up for both. In total dollars increased 10% and units 7% higher with an ASP gain of 3%. Year-over-year EMR and SSR dollars and units were higher. In total, dollars were better by 5% and units up 2%. Total ASP was up about 2% on the strength of EMRs.
Sales Growth by Relay Category
| Q4 Versus Q3 CY 2014 | Q4 2014 Versus Q4 2013 | YTD CY 2014 Vs. YTD 2013 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Dollars | Units | ASP | Dollars | Units | ASP | Dollars | Units | ASP |
| Electro-mechanical | -1.5% | -2.8% | 1.3% | 13.9% | 7.7% | 5.7% | 4.0% | 0.9% | 3.0% |
| Solid State | -8.4% | -5.8% | -2.8% | -2.1% | -5.6% | 3.7% | 7.3% | 36.7% | -21.5% |
| Total | -3.1% | -3.0% | -0.1% | 10.1% | 7.0% | 2.9% | 4.7% | 2.2% | 2.4% |
Booking dollars moved lower in Q4 compared to Q3 for EMRs while SSRs improved. Both saw an increase in units. In total booking dollars fell 2% and units grew 5% with a 7% ABP decrease. The comparison to Q4 of 2013 shows dollars up for both SSRs and EMRs with fewer units. All in, dollars rose 5% with units less than 2% lower. The ABP for EMR’s rose about 4% while SSRs were up 11% and the total was 7% higher. Year-over-year metrics have had mixed results compared to 2013. In total dollars inched up just over 1%, units down 1%, and booking prices 3% higher.
Bookings Growth by Relay Category
| Q4 Versus Q3 CY 2014 | Q4 2014 Versus Q4 2013 | YTD CY 2014 Vs. YTD 2013 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Dollars | Units | ABP | Dollars | Units | ABP | Dollars | Units | ABP |
| Electro-mechanical | -3.7% | 3.9% | -7.3% | 2.3% | -1.9% | 4.2% | 1.6% | -2.3% | 4.0% |
| Solid State | 3.4% | 23.4% | -16.2% | 17.1% | 5.6% | 11.0% | 0.6% | 25.1% | -19.6% |
| Total | -2.2% | 4.8% | -6.7% | 5.2% | -1.5% | 6.8% | 1.4% | -1.3% | 2.8% |
The graph below shows total quarterly indexed sales and bookings in dollars and units for the reported data. Sales dollar fell in the last quarter of 2012, held unchanged in Q1 of 2013, rose in Q2, fell in the second half of the year, and generally rose this past year. In 2012, booking dollars and units fell in Q4, recovered in Q1 of 2013, fell off in Q2 and Q3, then rebounded the next three quarters and dropped sharply in Q3 of last year.
CY 2012/2014 Total Relay Sales & Bookings Index (Q1 CY 2012 = 100)
The overall indexed selling prices have moved lower by 8% between Q1 of 2012 and 2013 then recovered in Q2 of 2013, held steady until with a small dip in Q1 of last year and are now at two year highs. Indexed booking prices have decreased about 25% from Q1 of 2012 to Q4 of 2013 and then increased to meet the ASP in Q3 of last year and dropped in Q4.
CY 2012/2014 Price Index Total Relay Market (Q1 CY 2012 = 100)
Book-to-bill dollars and units trended up from Q1 of 2012 to Q1 of 2013, moved down the next two quarters, recovered some in Q4 and Q1, held steady in Q2, and dropped in Q3. The ratio of average booking to selling prices has generally moved lower until Q1 of last year when the trend change went up. It then rose to hit 1.0 in Q3 and fell in Q4.
CY 2012/2014 Ratios for Total Reported Electromechanical & Solid State Relay Market
