Leading UK retailer Game Group has reported a decline in sales over the Christmas shopping season and the 49 week period ended January 9.

Sales for the five weeks ended January 9, 2010 decreased 12.1 per cent year-over-year, while sales for the 49 weeks ended January 9 were down 11.1 per cent.

“The negative trends in the PC and videogames market, outlined in our previous trading statement, continued over the key Christmas selling period despite strong software releases and a sizeable installed base of hardware,” commented Game chairman Peter Lewis.

“Since Christmas, however, we have seen significant improvement as customers have responded well to our mint and pre-owned sales offers and the release of new software.”

Despite the drop in sales Game forecasts profit before non-recurring costs and tax for the full year ending January 31 to be between £87m and £93m, representing the second best profit performance in the company’s history.