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Retail Sales at Bookstores Down in August
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August retail sales at bookstores were down by 4.5 percent compared to August 2012, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census. Year-to-date sales are down 2.6 percent compared to the same period last year.
August 2013 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,927 million, compared to sales of $2,018 million for the same period last year.
Total retail and food service sales in August are estimated at $443 billion, compared to $423 billion in August 2012, an increase of 4.7 percent.
Period |
2012 Final |
2013 |
% Change |
January |
1,782 |
1,879 |
5.4 |
February |
876 |
849 |
-3.1 |
March |
812 |
806 |
-1 |
April |
802 |
757 |
-5.6 |
May |
963 |
937 |
-2.7 |
June |
916 |
829 |
-9.5 |
July |
862 |
816 |
-5.3 |
August |
2,018 |
1,927 (p) |
-4.5 |
YTD |
9,031 |
8,800 (p) |
-2.6 |
(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.