July Bookstore Sales Manage Small Gain

July bookstore sales managed to scratch out a slight increase over July 2001, coming back into positive territory after June’s slight decrease. July 2002 sales were 1.4 percent ahead of the previous July.

Overall retail sales of $308 billion for July 2002 came in 6.6 percent over the $289 billion realized in July of 2001.

July is the sixth month in a row in which bookstore sales failed to keep pace with overall retail.

2001-2002 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES (unadjusted)

Period
2001 Final (Millions of Dollars)
2002 (Millions of Dollars)
% Increase 2002 Over 2001
January
1,698
2,188
28.9
February
1,163
1,117
(4.0)
March
1,165
1,126
(3.3)
April
1,034
1,043
0.9
May
1,188
1,229
3.5
June
1,201
1,156
(3.7)
July
1,124
1,140 (p)
1.4
YTD
8,573
8,999
5.0

(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.