Just an example:
U2's 2000 album "All That You Can't..." has sold 11.5 million copies worldwide while the last one did 8.1 million so far, a drop of 30%.
In US the numbers are 4.2 million (ATYCL
and 3 million (HTDAA
.
I don't think that the final numbers for the last U2 album could be more than 8.5m counting a possible Grammy's sales explosion.
Bridges To Babylon sold 4 million copies worldwide, while ABB is on 2.3 million right now, a drop of 43%.
In US we have 1.2 million for B2B and 470k for ABB.
The Stones still have 50% of the tour to go and the superbowl, the chances to reach the 3 million mark is very possible. A drop of 25% in the year 2005-06 (counting the current state of music, digital sales explosion...) is not bad at all.
From all the 60's, 70's or even 80's bands, only U2 is selling more than the Stones.