Bookstore Sales Soft in July

Posted Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

Bookstore sales remained soft with July revenue off for the fourth month in a row. July 2004 bookstore sales of $1,153 million were 1.9 percent lower than the $1,175 million seen in July 2003.

Bookstore sales continued to disappoint, especially when contrasted with the strong performance of overall retail for the same period.

Overall retail of $347 billion for July 2004 was 7.4 percent better than the $323 billion in July

2003-2004 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES (unadjusted)

Period
2003 Final
(Millions of Dollars)
2004
(Millions of Dollars)
% Increase
2004 Over 2003
January
2,172
2,153
(0.9)
February
1,043
1,144
9.7
March
963
1,067
10.8
April
1,018
1,016
(0.2)
May
1,143
1,097
(4.0)
June
1,222
1,191
(2.5)
July
1,175
1,153 (p)
(1.9)
YTD
8,736
8,821
1.0

(p) Preliminary figure

Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstores, 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.

 

Categories: