AI build-out pushes North American PCB book-to-bill to 1.60.
Global Electronics Association data for May 2026 showed a North American PCB book-to-bill ratio of 1.60, with PCB shipments up 11.9% year over year and bookings up 102.8%. AI server and data center investment continued to drive complex PCB demand, affecting PCBA process planning and supply-chain timing.
The May 2026 North American PCB statistics showed a three-month book-to-bill ratio of 1.60 and a one-month ratio of 1.66. PCB shipments rose 11.9% year over year and 10.1% sequentially, while bookings rose 102.8% year over year and 22.3% sequentially. Year-to-date bookings were 28.6% ahead of the same period in 2025.
The association connected the strong orders with AI infrastructure build-out. AI servers and data centers usually require higher layer counts, more advanced materials, tighter impedance control, and more complex thermal design. This can consume high-end PCB capacity first and spill over into lead times and costs.
Wireless mice, keyboards, headsets, and smart hardware do not necessarily use server-grade boards, but high-end demand in the PCB supply chain can still affect factory scheduling, material procurement, and fabrication windows. Miniaturization, high density, RF antenna layout, and power-noise control remain issues that wireless PCBA designs should address early.
During project evaluation, PCB process capability, stack-up, board thickness, surface finish, antenna clearance, and production test points should be confirmed as one set of design constraints. This reduces the chance of changing the PCB again after functional prototypes pass because of manufacturability or consistency issues.
Wireless keyboard PCBs often combine a long board shape, key-matrix routing, lighting power, USB-C, battery placement, and 2.4 GHz / Bluetooth antenna clearance. If the antenna is affected by a metal plate, battery, flex cable, or large ground area, products may see shorter Bluetooth range, packet loss with the 2.4 GHz dongle, or unstable sleep/wake behavior.
Wireless mouse board constraints are concentrated in a smaller, denser space: the controller, sensor, wheel, buttons, charging circuit, antenna, and battery are usually packed into a compact shell. High-polling or gaming mice also need careful coordination between wired USB mode, the 2.4 GHz dongle link, sensor SPI routing, power ripple, and RF ground reference.