Bookstore Sales Drop for 11th Month Straight
For nearly a year now, retail sales at bookstores have been in a slump. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census show a decline in retail sales at bookstores in May 2007 of 4.3 percent as compared to May 2006. This was the 11th month in a row that book sales failed to keep pace with the previous years' results.
May 2007 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,101 million, compared to sales for the previous May of $1,150 million.
The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of April 2007 figures downward slightly, from $909 million to $908 million, making the percentage change in bookstore sales this April a decrease of 6.1 percent.
Overall retail sales, however, were up in May -- retail sales were $398 billion in May 2007 as compared to $377 billion in May 2006, an increase of 5.6 percent, based on preliminary figures.
| Period | 2006 Final | 2007 | % Change |
| (Millions of Dollars) | (Millions of Dollars) | 2007 over 2006 | |
| January | 2,206 | 2,175 | -1.4 |
| February | 1,082 | 1,013 | -6.4 |
| March | 1,071 | 999 | -6.7 |
| April | 967 | 908 | -6.1 |
| May | 1,150 | 1,101 | -4.3 |
| YTD | 6,476 | 6,196 | -4.3 |
(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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