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Bookstore Sales in August Disappointing
Printer-friendly versionAugust is the fifth month in a row in which bookstore sales have trailed last year's figures. August 2004 bookstore sales of $2,079 million were 4.1 percent lower than the $2,167 for August 2003.
In contrast, overall retail sales of $345 billion for August 2004, were 4.5 percent better than the $330 billion reported in August 2003.
Year-to-date bookstore sales, incorporating the negative performance of the past five months, show no gain over the same time period last year.
|
Period
|
2003 Final
(Millions of Dollars) |
2004
(Millions of Dollars) |
% Increase
2004 Over 2003 |
|
January
|
2,172
|
2,153
|
(0.9)
|
|
February
|
1,043
|
1,144
|
9.7
|
|
March
|
963
|
1,067
|
10.8
|
|
April
|
1,018
|
1,016
|
(0.2)
|
|
May
|
1,143
|
1,097
|
(4.0)
|
|
June
|
1,222
|
1,191
|
(2.5)
|
|
July
|
1,175
|
1,154
|
(1.8)
|
|
August
|
2,167
|
2,079 (p)
|
(4.1)
|
|
YTD
|
10,903
|
10,901
|
(0.0)
|
(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.
Source: Bureau of the Census, Current Retail Trade Branch.