Bookstore Sales Down in November

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November was the fifth month in a row that retail sales at bookstore sales failed to keep pace with 2005 results, according to estimates recently released by the Bureau of the Census. November 2006 bookstore sales of $1,092 million were 1.7 percent below the $1,111 million realized in November 2005. Bookstore sales for the first 11 months of 2006 are 1.8 percent below those for the same period in 2005.

Overall retail sales continue to outperform bookstore sales. Overall retail sales of $364 billion for November 2006 were 4.9 percent ahead of the $347 billion reported in November 2005.

2005 - 2006 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES
(unadjusted)

Period

2005 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2006
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2006 over 2005

January

2,053

2,143

4.4

February

1,070

1,052

(1.7)

March

1,082

1,041

(3.8)

April

979

940

(4.0)

May

1,098

1,118

1.8

June

1,129

1,176

4.2

July

1,187

1,077

(9.3)

August

2,167

2,031

(6.3)

September

1,511

1,483

(1.9)

October

1,030

1,003

(2.6)

November

1,111

1,092(p)

(1.7)

YTD

14,417

14,156

(1.8)

(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.

Notice of Revision: Monthly retail sales were revised based on the results of the 2004 Annual Retail Trade Survey and results from the 2002 Census of Retail Trade. The Annual Revision of Monthly Retail and Food Services showing revised unadjusted and adjusted data was released on March 30, 2006.

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