Retail Sales at Bookstores Down in December

Retail sales at U.S. bookstores were down by 7.6 percent in December 2019 compared to December 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 February 12, the year-to-date sales among ABA member stores, as reported to the weekly Indie Bestseller Lists, are down 2.7 percent over 2019. For year-end 2019, sales among ABA members stores were down 0.3 percent over 2018.

The Census Bureau reported that December 2019 bookstore sales are estimated at $1,174 million, compared to sales of $1,270 million for the same period the previous year. Total retail and food service sales in December 2019 are estimated at $595.5 billion, compared to $563.5 billion in December 2018, an increase of 5.7 percent.

(p) Preliminary figure

Monthly retail sales were revised on June 25, 2019, based on the results of the 2017 Annual Retail Trade Survey.