Bookstore Sales Decline in October

Posted Monday, Dec 12, 2005

Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census, Current Retail Trade Branch indicate that October bookstore sales were 5.1 percent below those for the same period in 2004, marking the second worst decline of the year so far. Year-to-date sales at bookstores are down 2.5 percent.

In contrast, overall retail sales continued an upward trend. Overall retail sales of $345 billion for October 2005 were 5.8 percent ahead of the $326 billion reported in October 2004.

2004-2005 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES
(unadjusted)

Period

2004 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2005
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change 2005
over 2004

January

2,070

1,969

(4.9)

February

1,072

1,027

(4.2)

March

1,036

1,038

0.2

April

987

940

(4.8)

May

1,071

1,055

(1.5)

June

1,159

1,084

(6.5)

July

1,128

1,138

0.9

August

2,043

2,079

1.8

September

1,493

1,450

(2.9)

October

1,032

979 (p)

(5.1)

YTD

13,091

12,759

(2.5)

(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.

Source: Bureau of the Census, Current Retail Trade Branch.

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