- Categories:
Bookstore Sales Suffer Summer Doldrums
Printer-friendly versionAugust was the second month in a row that retail sales at bookstores failed to keep pace with the previous year, according to estimates recently released by the Bureau of the Census. August 2006 bookstore sales of $2,001 million were down 7.7 percent from last August. Year-to-date retail sales at bookstores are now down 2.0 percent from 2005.
In contrast, overall retail sales of $382 billion for August 2006 reflect a 6.4 percent increase over the $359 billion of August 2005.
|
2005-2006 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES |
|
Period |
2005 Final |
2006 |
% Change |
|
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 |
2,001(p) |
(7.7) |
|
YTD |
10,765 |
10,548 |
(2.0) |
(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.