July Bookstore Sales Disappointing

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Bookstore sales in July marked a disappointing downward turn after two months of encouraging gains, according to estimates released by the Bureau of the Census. Sales of $1,077 million for July 2006 were 9.3 percent off sales for the same month a year ago. As a result, year-to-date sales for 2006 are now down slightly from 2005.

Overall Retail Sales of $369 billion for July 2006 came in 4.2 percent over the $354 billion of July 2005.

2005-2006 RETAIL SALES for BOOKSTORES
(unadjusted)

Period

2005 Final
(Millions of Dollars)

2006
(Millions of Dollars)

% Change
2006 over 2005

January

2,053

2,143

4.4

February

1,070

1,052

(1.7)

March

1,082

1,041

(3.8)

April

979

940

(4.0)

May

1,098

1,118

1.8

June

1,129

1,176

4.2

July

1,187

1,077(p)

(9.3)

YTD

8,598

8,547

(0.6)

(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.

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