Retail Sales at Bookstores Down in November [1]
- By Elizabeth Knapp [2]
November retail sales at bookstores were down by 4.2 percent compared to November 2012, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. Year-to-date sales are down 1.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
November 2013 bookstore sales are estimated at $818 million, compared to sales of $854 million for the same period last year.
Total retail and food service sales in November are estimated at $432 billion, compared to $416 billion in November 2012, an increase of 3.8 percent.
Period |
2012 Final |
2013 |
% Change |
January |
1,782 |
1,879 |
5.4 |
February |
876 |
849 |
-3.1 |
March |
812 |
806 |
-1 |
April |
802 |
757 |
-5.6 |
May |
963 |
937 |
-2.7 |
June |
916 |
829 |
-9.5 |
July |
862 |
816 |
-5.3 |
August |
2,018 |
1,928 |
-4.5 |
September |
1,221 |
1,291 |
5.7 |
October |
807 |
797 |
-1.2 |
November |
854 |
818 (p) |
-4.2 |
YTD |
11,913 |
11,707(p) |
-1.7 |
(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.