Apple’s App Store net revenue shed about 5% in September, according to Morgan Stanley, the highest drop for the business since the bank started modeling the data in 2015.
The App Store fell in markets including the U.S., Canada and Japan, Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring wrote in a report Monday. His analysis was based on data from Sensor Tower, a firm that tracks app downloads and sales.
Morgan Stanley said the main reason behind the drop was gaming revenue, which fell 14% in September, according to the data. Apple customers may be on a tighter budget due to economic concerns, Woodring wrote. Across much of the globe, consumers are facing increased inflation and recession risks.
“We believe the recent App Store results make clear that the global consumer has somewhat de-emphasized App Store spending in the near-term as discretionary income is reallocated to areas of pent-up demand,” Woodring wrote in the note.
Morgan Stanley analysts also expect to see a plunge in sales on Google Play, the primary Android app store. They estimate revenue there plummeted 9% in September.
