Industry Statistics

For the fourth month in a row, retail sales at bookstores were down from the previous year. Bookstore sales decreased by three percent in May 2009 as compared to May 2008, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. May 2009 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,107 million, compared to sales of $1,141 million for the same period last year.

For the third month in a row, retail sales at bookstores were down. Sales at bookstores decreased by 2.5 percent in April 2009 as compared to April 2008, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. April 2009 bookstore sales are estimated at $969 million, compared to sales of $994 million for the same period last year.

Retail sales at bookstores decreased by 1.3 percent in March 2009 as compared to March 2008, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. March 2009 bookstore sales are estimated at $999 million, compared to sales of $1,012 million for the same period last year. For the year, bookstore sales are down by 4.1 percent in the first quarter of 2009.

Bookstore sales took a precipitous 10.8 percent dive in February 2009 as compared to February 2008, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. February 2009 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,021 million, compared to sales of $1,144 million for the same period last year.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of January 2009 figures to $2,297 million from $2,286 million, bringing bookstore sales this past January up by 0.5 percent.

By Len Vlahos, ABA Chief Program Officer

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Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census reflect a 0.04 percent increase in bookstore sales in January 2009 as compared to January 2008. January 2009 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,286 million, compared to sales of $2,285 million for the same period last year.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of December 2008 figures to $2,052 million from $2,051 million, slightly lowering the decrease in bookstore sales this past December to 4.6 percent.

On Tuesday, March 17, at an audio news conference, the U.S. Census Bureau released preliminary data from its 2007 Economic Census. The report is the first in a series of industry and geographic area data, including information for more than 1,000 communities not available from previous censuses. Among its key findings, the study reported that non-store retail was the second fastest growth sector, with sales increasing by 69 percent from 2002 to 2007.

Retail sales at bookstores this past December are estimated at $2,051 million, a drop of 4.7 percent compared to the $2,152 million in bookstore sales for December 2007, according to statistics recently released by the Bureau of the Census. For the year, bookstore retail sales were $16.9 billion, down an estimated 0.5 percent compared to 2007.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of November 2008 bookstore sales down slightly to $1,053 million, putting them at 13.0 percent below November 2007.

In an extremely challenging economic climate, independent retailers are outperforming many chains, a national survey has found.

Retail sales at bookstores during November 2008 fell drastically this year over last November. Sales are estimated at $1,054 million, a drop of 13.0 percent from the $1,211 million in bookstore sales for the same period last year, according to statistics recently released by the Bureau of the Census. For the year to date, retail bookstore sales are nearly flat, up by only an estimated 0.1 percent as compared 2007.

Literary reading among American adults is on the rise for the first time in more than 25 years, according to new report released this week by National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Retail sales at bookstores during October 2008 are estimated at $1,060 million, a drop of 5.6 percent from the $1,123 million in bookstore sales for the same period last year, according to statistics recently released by the Bureau of the Census. For the year to date, retail bookstore sales are up an estimated 1.3 percent compared to 2007.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of September 2008 bookstore sales upward to $1,507 million, putting them at 3.6 percent below September 2007.

Sales during September are estimated at $1,494 million, compared to sales of $1,564 million for the same period last year. For the year to date, bookstore sales are up 1.8 percent.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of August 2008 bookstore sales upward to $2,462 million, putting them at 6.5 percent above August 2007.

Total retail and food service sales fared better than bookstores sales in September. Retail sales were $357.7 billion in September 2008, compared to $357.5 billion in September 2007, a slight increase of 0.6 percent.

Sales Rep Group Changes

NAIBAhood News, the newsletter of the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association, reported on a number of recent rep group changes:

After a two-month downward trend, retail sales at bookstores bounced back in August. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census show bookstore sales in August 2008 increased 5.4 percent compared to August 2007.

Sales during August are estimated at $2,436 million, compared to sales of $2,311 million for the same period last year. For the year to date, bookstore sales are up 2.5 percent.