The number of worldwide air passengers purchasing premium seats in July declined year over year by a half percentage point,

according to the International Air Transport Association. Economy sales, meanwhile, grew 3 percent year over year. While IATA attributed the slowing rate of premium growth in part to "the start of Ramadan in late July, which commenced a month earlier than in 2011," the association said it’s evident that premium demand is flattening "after signs of faster growth early in 2012." July figures were down month over month, as June premium purchases grew by more than 4 percent and economy purchases increased 6 percent from June 2010 levels.