Analyst: Mac retail sales apparently up 36% year-over-year in March quarter

Apple’s March quarter look good already, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, after reviewing new data from the NPD research group. He says January Mac retail sales are up 36% year-over-year, compared to the Street consensus of 18% year-over-year growth.

Munster told clients in a note that Apple was on pace to sell 2.8 million Macs in the first fiscal quarter of the year. The analyst says iPod sales are up 5% year-over-year. He thinks Apple will see March quarter iPod sales slowing to 9-10 million, or roughly -9% to -17% year-over-year this quarter, versus the Street at -17%. Munster also told clients:

° That he thinks Apple will refresh its laptop line this quarter.

° The average selling price of Macs is down about 9% year-over-yearwhile iPod ASPs are up about 4%.