Video game sales up slightly in Sept.

NEW YORK -- After six straight months of double-digit decline, U.S. video game sales finally saw an improvement in September.

But the rebound was much more muted than analysts had hoped. Market researcher NPD Group on Monday reported a 1 percent increase in sales of video game hardware, software and accessories in September compared with the same month last year, totaling $1.28 billion. Year-to-date sales were still down 13 percent.

Microsoft's "Halo 3: ODST" was by far the month's best-selling game. It helped push software sales 5 percent higher, to $649.3 million, well below what many analysts expected.

David Magee of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey forecast an increase in the low double digits. Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter expected a 21 percent jump.