January Bookstore Sales Disappointing

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

January bookstore sales registered a marked decline from the previous January. This drop, coming in the wake of an eight-month decline last year (followed by a relatively strong December), suggests that the softness in the book market continues. January 2005 bookstore sales of $1,887 million were 12.4 percent below the $2,153 million of January 2004. And January 2004 was slightly lower than the $2,172 million of January 2003.

Overall retail sales continue to outperform bookstore sales. Overall retail sales of $311 billion for January 2005 were 5.4 percent ahead of the $295 billion reported in January of 2004.

2004-2005 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES
(unadjusted)

Period

2004 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2005
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2005 over 2004

January

2,153

1,887

(12.4)

YTD

2,153

1,887

(12.4)

(p) Preliminary figure

Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstore, including trade, college, religious, chain stores (including superstores), and others. A bookstore is defined as any retail establishment with sales comprised of more than 50 percent new books and periodicals, and estimates include sales of all products in these stores.

Source: Bureau of the Census, Current Retail Trade Branch.

Categories: 
Industry Statistics
Industry News