Weak Bookstore Sales Continue in February

Retail sales in bookstores in February were soft and continued the general decline of recent months. February 2005 bookstore sales of $1,027 million were 4.2 percent off the $1,072 million in sales of February 2004.

Overall retail sales continued to outperform bookstore sales. Overall retail sales of $301 billion for February 2005 were 5.6 percent ahead of the $285 billion reported in February 2004.

On a slightly better note, last month's decline in bookstore sales was not as steep as the 12.4 percent previously reported. New figures released by the Bureau of the Census now put January 2005 bookstore sales at 4.9 percent below that of January 2004.

2004-2005 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES
(unadjusted)

(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.