Retail Sales at Bookstores Up in December

Retail sales at U.S. bookstores were up by 9.2 percent in December 2018 compared to December 2017, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census, and year-over-year sales were up by 1.7 percent over 2017. Estimates reflect sales of all types of participating bookstores, including trade, college, religious, chain stores (including superstores), and others.

As of March 6, the year-to-date sales among ABA member stores, as reported to the weekly Indie Bestseller Lists, are up nearly two percent over 2018.

The Census Bureau reported that December 2018 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,220 million, compared to sales of $1,117 million for the same period the previous year. Total retail and food service sales in December 2018 are estimated at $565.1 billion, compared to $561.4 billion in December 2017, an increase of 0.7 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.