[0] Economic slowdown hits chip makers.

Sluggish personal computer sales in the United States and falling chip prices are signaling a slowdown in the semiconductor industry.

On Tuesday, Toshiba Corp. revised its earnings estimate downward due to falling demand in the United States. Other electronics equipment manufacturers face the same situation in which lagging computer sales hit chip prices.

Although many chip makers will be forced to adjust inventories for the first half of this year, they remain optimistic about the industry's future thanks to what is expected to be continued strong demand for cellular phones. However, some analysts are less confident, warning of a recession sparked by falling …