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18 The PCB Design Magazine • January 2015 feature next three years, averaging 2% growth per year. The North American PCB market, estimated at $3.44 billion, is delivering zero growth so far in 2014, but is expected to resume slow growth in 2015, based on forecasts in IPC's monthly North American PCB Market Report. Some opportunities and positive indica- tors for the North American PCB market are evident in the industry data IPC published in its 2013–2014 Analysis & Forecast for the PCB Industry in North America. The industry is projecting growth in PCB sales to the North American military and aerospace market this year which, if it materializes, could push mil/ aero ahead of communications to become the largest vertical market for PCBs in North America. Growth is also projected in PCB North America was the one bright spot in PCB production growth in 2013. Although 0.8% real growth may not seem like a cause for celebration, North America was the only major PCB-producing region with positive real growth in 2013. The estimated value of North American PCB output in 2013 was US$3.05 billion, 5% of the world market, according to IPC's World PCB Production Report for the Year 2013. PCB production in North America is expect- ed to grow at a slow but steady pace over the by Sharon Starr IPC North American PCB Opportunities: Investment is Crucial Originally published in The PCB Magazine, December 2014.