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December 2005 Bookstore Sales Even With 2004
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Retail sales at bookstores during December reached $2,090 million, up just .05 percent compared to December 2004, according to recently released estimates from the Bureau of the Census. This is the second month in a row that sales were up slightly compared to 2004 results. However, estimated bookstore sales of $15,924 million for all of 2005 were down 1.8 percent from the previous year.
Overall retail sales continued strong in December. Preliminary Census Bureau estimates put overall retail sales at $416 billion for December 2005, an improvement of 5.6 percent over the $394 billion reported in December 2004.
(unadjusted) |
Period |
2004 Final |
2005 |
% Change |
January |
2,070 |
1,969 |
(4.9) |
February |
1,072 |
1,027 |
(4.2) |
March |
1,036 |
1,038 |
0.2 |
April |
987 |
940 |
(4.8) |
May |
1,071 |
1,055 |
(1.5) |
June |
1,159 |
1,084 |
(6.5) |
July |
1,128 |
1,138 |
0.9 |
August |
2,043 |
2,079 |
1.8 |
September |
1,493 |
1,450 |
(2.9) |
October |
1,032 |
988 |
(4.3) |
November |
1,044 |
1,066 |
2.1 |
December |
2,089 |
2,090(p) |
0.05 |
YTD |
16,224 |
15,924 |
(1.8) |
(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.