Retail Sales at Bookstores Down in September

By Elizabeth Knapp on Thursday, Nov 15, 2012

September retail sales at bookstores were down 8.2 percent compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

September 2012 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,396 million, compared to sales of $1,522 million in September 2011.

Total retail and food service sales in September 2012 are estimated at $391 billion, compared to $379 billion in September 2011, an increase of 3.2 percent.

Period

2011 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2012
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2012 over 2011

January

2,039

2,022

-0.8

February

1,035

994

-4

March

958

921

-3.8

April

874

910

4.1

May

1,031

1,092

5.7

June

1,002

1,039

3.7

July

969

979

1.2

August

2,402

2,289

-4.7

September

1,522

1,386

-8.9

YTD

11,832

11,632 (p)

-1.6

(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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