Arctic Monkeys' new album 'Humbug' is selling significantly slower than its two predecessors.

The record, released on Monday, shifted 40,000 units in the UK on its first day and looks unlikely to reach the lofty 360,000 first week sales of 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'.

Their second long-player 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' sold 220,000 copies in its first week back in April 2007.

Despite this, 'Humbug' is still racing to become 2009's fastest selling album competing with U2's 'No Line On The Horizon'.

HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo said: “It is comfortably on its way to selling well over 100,000 copies this week and is guaranteed to give the band their third UK No 1.

“It could even vie with U2’s No Line On The Horizon as one of the fastest-selling albums of 2009.”

(by Scott Colothan)