- Categories:
Sales at Bookstores Decline in September
Printer-friendly versionSales during September are estimated at $1,494 million, compared to sales of $1,564 million for the same period last year. For the year to date, bookstore sales are up 1.8 percent.
The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of August 2008 bookstore sales upward to $2,462 million, putting them at 6.5 percent above August 2007.
Total retail and food service sales fared better than bookstores sales in September. Retail sales were $357.7 billion in September 2008, compared to $357.5 billion in September 2007, a slight increase of 0.6 percent.
|
Period |
2007 Final |
2008 |
% Change |
|
January |
2,195 |
2,285 |
4.1 |
|
February |
1,030 |
1,144 |
11.1 |
|
March |
1,019 |
1,019 |
0.0 |
|
April |
926 |
1,002 |
8.2 |
|
May |
1,125 |
1,154 |
2.6 |
|
June |
1,152 |
1,074 |
(6.7) |
|
July |
1,213 |
1,124 |
(7.4) |
|
August |
2,311 |
2,462 |
6.5 |
|
September |
1,564 |
1,494 (p) |
(4.5) |
|
YTD |
12,535 |
12,760 (p) |
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.