Retail Sales at Bookstores Up in October

By Elizabeth Knapp on Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012

October retail sales at bookstores were up 4.6 percent compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

October 2012 bookstore sales are estimated at $914 million, compared to sales of $874 million in October 2011.

Total retail and food service sales in October 2012 are estimated at $404 billion, compared to $384 billion in October 2011, an increase of 5.2 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

October

874

914 (p)

4.6

YTD

12,706

12,546 (p)

-1.3

(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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