Bookstore Sales Up in January

January retail sales at bookstores were up by 2.0 percent, compared to January 2009, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. January 2010 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,277 million, compared to sales of $2,233 million for the same period last year.

Final December sales were $2,023, down 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary estimates and 0.8 percent lower than December 2008.

Total retail and food service sales in January are estimated at $409.0 billion, compared to $314.0 billion in January 2009, an increase of 2.6 percent.

(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.