Retail Sales at Bookstores Up in March

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Retail sales at bookstores were up by 10.7 percent in March 2016 compared to March 2015, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

March 2016 bookstore sales are estimated at $766 million, compared to sales of $692 million for the same period last year.

Total retail and food service sales in March 2016 are estimated at $460.1 billion, compared to $444.1 billion in March 2015, an increase of 3.6 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

766 (p)

10.7

YTD

2,903

3,083 (p)

6.2

(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.