NPD locks up US sales data

US sales tracker NPD will no longer release the number of games and consoles sold in its monthly report.

Effective of October 14th, 2010 (when NPD releases its September data), the press will be unable to report on which consoles sold best in the US.

The group is also changing the way it will portray its monthly chart. NPD will now release a Top 10 by title as opposed to by SKU.

Despite the news, some sales figures may be included in the monthly analysis written by Anita Frazier.

NPD Group executive director Dave Riley explained: The changes are being implemented in order to address the changing sales landscape as well as updates to NPD’s corporate publishing policies.”

He added: As per The NPD Group’s policy, NPD hardware and software subscribers are permitted to release sales figures for their respective products – a practice that NPD will continue to support.”