Apple Sales Peel Back in May

Netbooks and the global recession took another bite out of Apple (AAPL Quote) sales in May.

New numbers from research outfit NPD Group obtained by Piper Jaffray show Mac sales on track to hit 2.3 million shipments for the quarter ending this month, a 7.6% decline from year-ago levels. The numbers, if accurate, will mean Mac sales fell for the second straight quarter.

But chin up Apple fans. May numbers were slightly better than April, which had Mac sales headed for 2.2 million, or an 11.6% drop from last year's levels.

Overall, PC sales, as Dell (DELL Quote) reported last month, also continue to slump. Dell sales disappointed Wall Street when the company reported revenue fell 23% below year-ago levels.

Part of what's eating the computer industry is the invasion of $300-or-less netbooks, which have enjoyed popularity among budget-minded shoppers. Apple, which recently announced a refreshed line of MacBook Pros, does not offer any computers priced below $999.

On the music front, May iPod sales did not change their tune. The May numbers basically reinforce April's results, according to NPD and Jaffray. The monthly iPod shipments remain on track to hit consensus of 10 million, which is down 9% from the year-ago quarter.

Apple shares were down about 1% in a big down day for the market Monday.