Bookstore Sales Drop Again

Posted Monday, Aug 13, 2007

The retail sales slump at bookstores continued in June. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census show a decline in retail sales at bookstores in June 2007 of 6.6 percent as compared to June 2006. This was the 12th month in a row that book sales failed to keep pace with the previous years' results.

June 2007 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,130 million, compared to sales for the previous June of $1,210 million.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of May 2007 figures upward slightly, from $1,101 million to $1,104 million, meaning bookstore sales in May 2007 decreased by 4.0 percent as compared to May 2006.

Overall retail sales, however, were up in June -- retail sales were $383 billion in June 2007 as compared to $370 billion in June 2006, an increase of 3.5 percent, based on preliminary figures.

Period

2006 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2007
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
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

1,104

-4.0

June

1,210

1,130 (p)

-6.6

YTD

7,686

7,326

-4.7

(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.

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

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