In advance of the NPD report for March later this week, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter has issued his preview note, which estimates that Xbox 360 sold 480,000 units (42% growth year-over-year) in March, taking the top spot in console sales yet again. He forecasts that Wii sold 410,000 units (down 26%) and that PS3 sold 380,000 units (up 21%). 

As Pachter has told us previously, he believes that Microsoft's console will maintain its momentum from Kinect and continue to outsell PS3 and Wii in the U.S. 

"We expect demand for the Xbox 360 to remain strong due to Kinect (in early March, Microsoft announced worldwide sales of 10 million units). We expect Wii hardware sales to continue to decline in the first part of 2011, with PS3 hardware sales moderating. PSP sales should receive a modest lift due to the recent price cut," he said.

"Wii hardware sales were down 26% in 2010, and we believe that the downward trend will continue at least through this month. PS3 hardware sales were roughly flat in 2010, and notwithstanding no meaningful catalysts (other than the relatively modest launch of the Move controller in September), we think that Sony’s increased marketing should keep sales relatively flat in 2011. Xbox 360 sales were up more than 40% in 2010, and continued the upward trend in January and February, although by a more modest 15% and 27%, respectively. Without further price cuts, we expect hardware sales to be down in 2011, and we think that the console manufacturers will position cuts around the E3 Expo in early June."

http://www.industrygamers.com/news/ps3-to-finish-last-in-march-npd---analyst/