Retail Bookstore Sales Slip in July

By Karen Schechner on Thursday, Sep 16, 2010

July retail sales at bookstores slipped for the fourth month in a row. July 2010 sales were off by 2.35 percent, compared with July 2009, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

July 2010 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,079 million, compared with sales of $1,105 million for the same period last year.

Total retail and food service sales in July are estimated at $372.6 billion, compared with $353.6 billion in July 2009, an increase of 5.34 percent.

Period

2009 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2010
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2010 over 2009

January

2,233

2,275

2.0

February

1,010

1,013

0.3

March

997

1,013

1.6

April

966

918

(5.0)

May

1,116

1,087

(2.6)

June

1,105

1,095

(0.80)

July

1,105

1,079 (p)

(2.35)

YTD

8, 532

8, 481 (p)

(0.6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(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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