Bookstore Sales Up in December

By Elizabeth Knapp on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011

Retail sales at bookstores increased in December 2010, but remained down for the year. December sales increased 2.1 percent compared with December 2009, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

December 2010 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,084 million, compared with sales of $2,041 million for the same period last year.

Retail sales at bookstores were down 1.4 percent for the year.

Total retail and food service sales in December are estimated at $440.2 billion, compared with $408.6 billion in December 2009, an increase of 7.8 percent.

 

Period

2009 Final

(Millions of Dollars)

2010

(Millions of Dollars)

% Change

2010 over 2009

January

2,254

2,294

2.0

February

1,019

1,013

0.3

March

997

1,013

1.6

April

966

918

(5.0)

May

1,116

1,087

(2.6)

June

1,105

1,095

(0.80)

July

1,105

1,080

(2.35)

August

2,447

2,300

(6.0)

September

1,625

1,525

(6.15)

October

1,026

1,000

(2.5)

November

1,031

1,084

5.3

December

2,041

2,084 (p)

2.1

YTD

16,732

16,493 (p)

(1.4)

(p) Preliminary figure

Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstores, 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.

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