Modest Gain in Bookstore Sales in August
According to preliminary figures released by the Bureau of the Census, for the second month in a row, retail sales at bookstores showed a modest gain over the same period last year. Retail sales at bookstores in August were up 1.9 percent over August of last year. However, to date, bookstore sales are down 2.2 percent for the year.
Overall retail sales remain strong and continue to outperform bookstore sales. Overall retail sales of $365 billion for August 2005 were 9.9 percent ahead of the $332 billion reported in August 2004.
The 86th annual Children's Book Week, sponsored by the Children's Book Council (CBC), will be celebrated this year from November 14 to November 20. CBC, the nonprofit trade association of publishers and packagers of books and materials for children and young adults, holds the annual event to celebrate the written word and to introduce young people to new authors and ideas in schools, bookstores, libraries, and homes.