Retail Bookstore Sales Up in March

March retail sales at bookstores were up by 1.6 percent, compared with March 2009, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. March 2010 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,013 million, compared with sales of $997 million for the same period last year.

Final February sales were $1,013 million, 1.0 percent higher than last month's preliminary estimates and 0.30 percent higher than February 2009.

Total retail and food service sales in March are estimated at $369.6 billion, compared with $333.2 billion in March 2009, an increase of 10.9 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.