PC sales have declined in the US since the launch of Windows 8, new figures suggest.

Statistics from market analyst NPD Group suggest that Microsoft's new operating system has failed to reignite interest in desktop and laptop hardware.

Since Windows 8 debuted on October 26, Notebook sales have seen a year-on-year decline of 24% and desktop PC sales have dropped by 9% compared to the same period in 2011.

Moreover, machines running the Windows operating system have declined by 21% compared to the same period in 2011.

"After just four weeks on the market, it's still early to place blame on Windows 8 for the ongoing weakness in the PC market," said NPD vice president Steven Baker.

"We still have the whole holiday selling season ahead of us, but clearly Windows 8 did not prove to be the impetus for a sales turnaround some had hoped for."

NPD noted that an average price increase of 10% on desktop hardware since the release of the new operating system may have had a bearing on the figures.