- Categories:
Bookstore Sales Drop Again
The retail sales slump at bookstores continued in June. Preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census show a decline in retail sales at bookstores in June 2007 of 6.6 percent as compared to June 2006. This was the 12th month in a row that book sales failed to keep pace with the previous years' results.
June 2007 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,130 million, compared to sales for the previous June of $1,210 million.
The Census Bureau also adjusted its preliminary estimates of May 2007 figures upward slightly, from $1,101 million to $1,104 million, meaning bookstore sales in May 2007 decreased by 4.0 percent as compared to May 2006.
Overall retail sales, however, were up in June -- retail sales were $383 billion in June 2007 as compared to $370 billion in June 2006, an increase of 3.5 percent, based on preliminary figures.
Period |
2006 Final |
2007 |
% Change |
January |
2,206 |
2,175 |
-1.4 |
February |
1,082 |
1,013 |
-6.4 |
March |
1,071 |
999 |
-6.7 |
April |
967 |
908 |
-6.1 |
May |
1,150 |
1,104 |
-4.0 |
June |
1,210 |
1,130 (p) |
-6.6 |
YTD |
7,686 |
7,326 |
-4.7 |
(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.
Source: Bureau of the Census, Current Retail Trade Branch.