Total toy sales declined in April, down six per cent in value and four per cent in units.
The decline was due to the impact of poor weather on the second largest area, the outdoor toys category, which declined 38 per cent.
The reason for this was several weeks with beautiful weather in April 2011, which were replaced by rain and the cold this year.
Read the NPD's analysis in full, only on ToyNews.
Want to receive up to the minute toy industry news straight to your inbox? Click here to sign up for the free ToyNews Daily Digest and Newsflash services. You can also follow ToyNews on Twitter and Facebook.