Bookstore Sales Fall in December

Posted Thursday, Feb 18, 2010

December retail sales at bookstores were down for the third straight month. Bookstore sales decreased by 0.6 percent in December 2009, compared to December 2008, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. December 2009 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,027 million, compared to sales of $2,039 million for the same period last year.

Retail sales at bookstores were down 0.8 percent for the year.

Total retail and food service sales in December are estimated at $409.0 billion, compared to $388.0 billion in December 2008, an increase of 5.4 percent.

Period

2008 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2009
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2009 over 2008

January

2,271

2,233

(1.7)

February

1,139

1,010

(11.3)

March

1,012

998

(1.4)

April

994

962

(3.2)

May

1,141

1,108

(2.9)

June

1,065

1,103

3.6

July

1,115

1,104

(1.0)

August

2,402

2,422

0.8

September

1,476

1,580

7.0

October

1,044

1,030

(1.3)

November

1,046

1,023

(2.2)

December

2,039

2,027 (p)

(0.6)

YTD

16,744

16,604 (p)

(0.8)

(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.

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