US retail sales lowest since October 2006

Sales of boxed product in the US in July were the lowest since October 2006, according to data from NPD.

The industry as a whole was down 26 per cent to $707.7 million, with software down 17 per cent to $336.2 million and hardware down 29 per cent to $229 million.

Accessories were also down 8 per cent to $127.8 million, in a month when only EA Sports' NCAA Football sold significant figures.

The Xbox 360 was the best-selling console during the month with 277,000 units according to Microsoft, although NPD pointed out that it was the first time the system suffered a year-on-year decline since December 2009.

"There is no getting around the fact that video game sales in the new physical retail channel suffered its lowest month since October 2006," said Anita Frazier, NPD analyst.

"Despite the very rough month, new physical retail sales are down just 4 per cent year-to-date and based on seasonality trends observed over the last 10 years, which have been remarkably stable year-in, year-out, industry sales in this particular channel are poised to land in the flat to -2 per cent range once the total year is completed."

The poor sales were in-line with expectations, with August likely to be another bad month before a more healthy fourth quarter.

The top ten US sales for July follow:

• 01 NCAA Football 12 (Xbox 360, PS3)
• 02 Cars 2 (DS, Wii, Xbox 360, PC, PS3)
• 03 Call of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360, PS3, DS, Wii, PC)
• 04 LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (Wii, DS, Xbox 360, PC, PS3, 3DS, PSP)
• 05 Just Dance (Wii)
• 06 Major League Baseball 2K11 (Xbox 360, DS, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC)
• 07 Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)
• 08 Fallout: New Vegas (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• 09 New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
• 10 Mortal Kombat 2011 (Xbox 360, PS3)