Retail Sales at Bookstores Down in January

January retail sales at bookstores were down by 4.6 percent, compared to January 2010, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

January 2011 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,189 million, compared to sales of $2,294 million for the same period last year.

Total retail and food service sales in January are estimated at $345.2 billion, compared to $321.6 billion in January 2010, an increase of 7.3 percent.

Retail sales at bookstores for December 2010 were also adjusted upward to $2,088 million, an increase of 0.19 percent, which brings the final percentage increase for December 2010 compared with December 2009 to 2.3 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.