Sales at Bookstores Decline in September

Posted Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008

Sales during September are estimated at $1,494 million, compared to sales of $1,564 million for the same period last year. For the year to date, bookstore sales are up 1.8 percent.

The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of August 2008 bookstore sales upward to $2,462 million, putting them at 6.5 percent above August 2007.

Total retail and food service sales fared better than bookstores sales in September. Retail sales were $357.7 billion in September 2008, compared to $357.5 billion in September 2007, a slight increase of 0.6 percent.

Period

2007 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2008
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2008 Over 2007

January

2,195

2,285

4.1

February

1,030

1,144

11.1

March

1,019

1,019

0.0

April

926

1,002

8.2

May

1,125

1,154

2.6

June

1,152

1,074

(6.7)

July

1,213

1,124

(7.4)

August

2,311

2,462

6.5

September

1,564

1,494 (p)

(4.5)

YTD

12,535

12,760 (p)

1.8

(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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