US citizens spent $1.23 billion on video games, hardware and accessories in April, up 47 percent from a year earlier – despite the financial pressure from soaring prices of food and gasoline.

According to NPD data, software sales were up 68 percent, fuelled by Grand Theft Auto IV – by far the month's top-selling game.

Except the Wii, which saw a small increase, sales of every gaming system declined from last month's figures.

The Associated Press reports this was the first time in months that sales of portable games and hardware declined, according to NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

But Frazier noted that a calendar shift put Easter in March this year — compared to April last year — which could account for some of the decline.