Bookstore Sales Up for 7th Consecutive Month

The new year got off to a good start, with retail sales at bookstores exceeding last January's results. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census reflect an increase in bookstore sales in January 2008 of 4.7 percent as compared to January 2007. This was the seventh consecutive month that retail sales at bookstores exceeded the previous year's results.

January 2008 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,278 million, compared to sales of $2,175 million for the same period last year.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of December 2007 figures downward slightly, from $2,113 million to $2,109 million, bringing the increase in bookstore sales this past December to 2.5 percent.

Overall total retail and food service sales were also up in January. Retail sales were $349 billion in January 2008, compared to $332.8 billion in January 2007, an increase of 4.9 percent.

(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.