Book sales were up for the second straight month in September, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

September 2011 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,550 million, an increase of seven percent over September 2010’s sales of $1,488 million. Year-to-date sales are up 2.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Total retail and food service sales in September are estimated at $381.9 billion, compared with $351.7 September in August 2010, an increase of 8.6 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.