Flagship Phone Releases Boosted February Sales After Slow January: NPD

February sales of mobile phones through the national retail channel increased 4% in units and 4% in dollars from a year earlier, boosted by new flagship device releases, reported NPD Wednesday. The sales growth was especially robust in the third week of February, when dollars jumped 142% and units 33% from the second week of the month, it said. During that same time period mobile phone accessories sales increased 16% in dollars and 13% in units, after declines all through January, it said. The growth in the third week of February came after consumers "took advantage of promotions and financing programs that were extended to 36 months," said NPD analyst Brad Akyuz. "Additionally, accessory credit promotions drove sales of corresponding cases and more to accompany these new devices.”