Retail Sales at Bookstores Up in March

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March retail sales at bookstores increased one percent compared to March 2012, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

March 2013 bookstore sales are estimated at $931 million, compared to sales of $921 million for the same period last year.

Total retail and food service sales in March are estimated at $427.8 billion, compared to $419.6 billion in March 2012, an increase of 2.3 percent.

Period

2012 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2013
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2013 over 2012

January

2,022

2,132

5.5

February

994

963

-3.1

March

921

931 (p)

1

YTD

3,937

4,026 (p)

2.3

(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.