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ARLINGTON, VA – Consumer confidence in the overall economy was virtually unchanged in February, according to figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association and CNET. Despite positive growth in certain categories, such as digital displays, the CEA-CNET Indexes also show that consumer expectations about technology spending continue to fall.

The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) reached 166.4 in February, relatively unchanged from January, when the index measured 166.6. The index is down over 12 points from this time last year.

“We are now 14 months into the recession, and consumers remain anxious about the future,” said Shawn DuBravac, CEA’s economist and director of research.

“Unemployment continues to rise and the two key sources of financial wealth – real estate and stocks – remain muted.”

Consumer confidence in CE and technology dropped nearly 9 points in February 2009 to 68.4, the lowest level since the CEA-CNET Indexes were initiated in January of 2007. The 8.9-point drop was the third largest single-month decline for the CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE). The ICTE, which measures consumers’ confidence in consumer electronics and technology, is down over 21 points from this same time last year.

“Consumers continue to delay discretionary purchases, and we are in the midst of one of the worst drops in consumer spending in the last 40 years,” said DuBravac. “The drop in February is not completely surprising considering the decent strength in consumer spending on technology in January. While consumer spending is down across the board, we are still seeing positive growth in several product categories such as digital displays, accessories and video games.”

The CEA-CNET Indexes are comprised of the ICE and the ICTE, both of which are updated on a monthly basis through consumer surveys.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics reported June quarter sales of $482 million, down 29.3% from last year on lower demand for computing products.

WASHINGTON -- New orders for durable goods fell 2.5% sequentially in June on slower orders for transportation gear, the US Commerce Department reported.

BRUSSELS – A series of proposed revisions to ROHS and WEEE calls for a sea change in how mandatory take-back targets are set, and adds medical devices to its list of covered end-products.

The European Commission in December proposed adding two categories of equipment (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/pdf/com_2008_809.pdf), heretofore known as categories 8, medical devices, and 9, monitoring and control instruments.

The RoHS Directive mandates periodic EC reviews. The proposed changes are the result of stakeholder input gathered in 2007 and early 2008.

No new substances are proposed for elimination, however.

The proposed WEEE revisions would alter mandatory recycling targets to a sum equal to 65% of the average weight of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market over the two previous years in each Member State. The collection target is currently 4 kg per person per year, which fails to take into consideration the variance in electronics consumption from nation to nation, the EC said.

The recycling and recovery targets of such equipment now include the reuse of whole appliances, and weight-base targets will increase by 5%. It is also proposed to set targets for the recovery of medical devices. These items were omitted from the original directive because of concerns over the reliability of lead-free solders.

Any exemptions to Categories 8 and 9 will be subject to a four-year maximum validity period, while substitutes are researched and implemented.

The EU will also take up the matter of so-called “priority” substances considered to pose environmental concerns. These chemicals are covered under the REACH Directive, and the latest proposal looks at how RoHS can better tie in with the REACH methodology.

NORTH BILLERICA, MA – BTU International Inc. reported second-quarter net sales of $10.8 million, down 47% compared to the same quarter a year ago, and up 10% sequentially.

SAN JOSE -- Flextronics has reportedly agreed to the sale of Nortel's wireless technology assets to Ericsson, paving the way for the deal to be finalized.