Retail Sales at Bookstores Up in April

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Retail sales at bookstores were up by 9.7 percent in April 2016 compared to April 2015, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

April 2016 bookstore sales are estimated at $757 million, compared to sales of $690 million for the same period last year.

Total retail and food service sales in April 2016 are estimated at $451 billion, compared to $438.2 billion in April 2015, an increase of 2.9 percent.

Period

2015 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2016
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2016 over 2015

January

1,495

1,550

3.7

February

716

767

7.1

March

692

765

10.5

April

690

757 (p)

9.7

YTD

3,593

3,839 (p)

6.8

(p) Preliminary figure

Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstores, 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.