Retail Bookstore Sales Dip Again in May

May retail sales at bookstores dipped for the second month in a row. May 2010 sales were off by 2.6 percent, compared with May 2009, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. May 2010 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,087 million, compared with sales of $1,116 million for the same period last year.

Final April sales were $918 million, .01 percent higher than last month's preliminary estimates and 5.0 percent lower than April 2009.

Total retail and food service sales in May are estimated at $376.1 billion, compared with $353.3 billion in May 2009, an increase of 6.45 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.