Survey: 6% iPod decline

Analysis of the first month of March quarter iPod NPD data points to iPod sales of between 9.5-10.3 million, according to research firm Piper Jaffray, which would signal a 6 percent year-over-year decline. "While it is way too early to make a definitive call on March quarter iPod units, we have analyzed the first month of NPD data (Jan.) for the quarter and found that it suggests iPod units of 9.5m-10.3m," said Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster. Wall Street consensus on iPod sales for Apple's March quarter currently stand at 10.8 million units, representing a 2 percent year-over-year increase.

"We see this data point as a slight positive, given recent Street chatter of a very weak iPod number for the quarter, and we note that the monthly contribution we have factored in for February and March may be prove to conservative given the iPod shuffle price cut on 2/19, leading to a more back-end-loaded quarter for iPod units," the analyst said.

Piper Jaffray's 9.5m-10.3m unit approximation is based on various assumptions and is an extrapolation of one month of data; when the second month of data is released, the company's analysis will likely lead to a slightly different iPod unit figure than current analysis suggests based on the first month of data. The firm suggests investors supplement the new data with other information.

by MacNN Staff