Retail Sales at Bookstores Up in April

Retail sales at U.S. bookstores were up by 3.4 percent in April 2019 compared to April 2018, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstores, including trade, college, religious, chain stores (including superstores), and others.

As of June 12, the year-to-date sales among ABA member stores, as reported to the weekly Indie Bestseller Lists, are down 0.3 percent over 2018; year-to-date sales for the entire bookstore channel are down 6 percent over 2018. Compound annual growth among ABA member stores is 7.5 percent over the past five years.

The Census Bureau reported that April 2019 bookstore sales are estimated at $693 million, compared to sales of $670 million for the same period the previous year. Total retail and food service sales in April 2019 are estimated at $511 billion, compared to $484 billion in April 2018, an increase of 5.6 percent.

(p) Preliminary figure

Note: Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstores, 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.