Industry Statistics

Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census reflect an increase in bookstore sales in February 2008 of 11.4 percent, compared to February 2007. This was the eighth consecutive month that retail sales at bookstores exceeded the previous year's results. February 2008 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,128 million, compared to sales of $1,013 million for the same period last year.

The new year got off to a good start, with retail sales at bookstores exceeding last January's results. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census reflect an increase in bookstore sales in January 2008 of 4.7 percent as compared to January 2007. This was the seventh consecutive month that retail sales at bookstores exceeded the previous year's results. January 2008 bookstore sales are estimated at $2,278 million, compared to sales of $2,175 million for the same period last year.

For the sixth consecutive month, retail sales at bookstores exceeded last year's results. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census reflect an increase in bookstore sales in December 2007 of 2.7 percent as compared to December 2006. December 2007 bookstore sales are estimated at $ 2,113 million, compared to sales of $2,057 million for the same period last year.

ABA member bookstores participating in the 2007 ABACUS Survey recently received their individual store reports and a $50 dues rebate check. Now, the American Booksellers Association is making the 2007 ABACUS Review (PDF format) available to all member booksellers via BookWeb.org.

For the fifth consecutive month, retail sales at bookstores exceeded last year's results. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census show an increase in bookstore sales in November 2007 of 7.5 percent compared to November 2006. November 2007 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,186 million, compared to sales of $1,103 million for the same period last year.

From December 9 through December 12, ABA Chief Marketing Officer Meg Smith joined the booksellers at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona, for a brief stint as a frontline bookseller. This is her account of what it's like to be a rookie bookseller during the hectic holiday sales days at an award-winning independent bookstore.

Small Business Review Looks at Presidential Candidates' Small Biz Agenda

October was a good month for retail, including bookstores: for the fourth consecutive month, retail sales at bookstores exceeded last year's results. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census show an increase in bookstore sales in October 2007 of 8.0 percent compared to October 2006.

On November 19, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) released To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence, a new analysis of reading patterns in the U.S. The study, which is a follow-up to NEA's 2004 Reading at Risk, revealed recent declines in voluntary reading and test scores alike, trends NEA described as having "severe consequences for American society."

Preliminary figures released by the Bureau of the Census show an increase in retail sales at bookstores in September 2007 of 2.7 percent compared to September 2006. September bookstore sales are estimated at $1,562 million, compared to sales of $1,521 million for the same period last year. The September figures represent the third consecutive month that bookstore sales outpaced the previous year's results. However, bookstore sales over the first seven months are still slightly lagging behind last year total.