Newsweek Analyst N’Gai Croal has stated this morning that the monthly sales data figures (specifically hardware) won’t be free to the public anymore. This might not mean much to some, but the 4-weekly NPD numbers always make for rapid fanboy amusement when they surface. No longer the case, the American console sales will be a pay-for service and whilst the console manufacturers are allowed to publish the data as part of a press release, the service will become more like the UK version, Chart Track, when only significant information is available to the public domain. This month’s, due next week, will be the last.