Apple acknowledged for the first time that regulatory changes forcing it to loosen control of its App Store are weighing on its more than $100bn services business. The iPhone maker reported services revenue of $30.7bn in the June quarter, below analysts’ expectations of $31.4bn, while the division’s gross margin of 75.6% also missed forecasts.

Sensor Tower found US consumer spending through the App Store fell 6% year‑over‑year in the second quarter, compared with 9% growth a year earlier, while Appfigures estimated that Apple’s US commission revenue has contracted 18% this year. Analysts such as UBS’s David Vogt called the slowdown a “concern,” and Bank of America’s Wamsi Mohan said the record $30.7bn was still “somewhat weaker than we expected.”

Courts and regulators worldwide have forced Apple to allow alternative payment methods, undermining the up‑to‑30% commission it charges on digital purchases. The EU fined Apple €500 million over alleged Digital Markets Act breaches, and a US court injunction won by Epic Games required the company to let developers direct users to external payment systems. Weaker consumer spending and macro uncertainty have also weighed on demand.

Chief financial officer Kevan Parekh cited recent App Store changes as a factor, and Apple shares fell about 9% after the results. Nicholas Rodelli of Washington Analysis said the impact is now visible in the numbers and could lead the market to reprice the durability of the services business take‑rate.