April Sales at Bookstores: Not So Cruel

April 2011 bookstore sales are estimated at $877 million, compared with sales of $871 million for the same period last year.

The Census Bureau also made a significant upward revision to last month’s sales figure for March. The revised figure puts March sales at $973 million, an increase of 1.1 compared to March 2010. The previously reported figure had March 2011 retail sales at bookstores decreasing by 5.8 percent.

Total retail and food service sales in April are estimated at $389.4 billion, compared with $362 billion in April 2010, an increase of 7.6 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.