Retail Sales at Bookstores Fall Again

Retail sales at bookstores in March 2007 decreased as compared to the previous March, according to preliminary estimates released by the Bureau of the Census. In addition, the Bureau adjusted February 2007 figures upward, though the end result is that bookstore sales decreased by 6.4 percent this past February, and not 6.5 percent, as preliminary figures indicated.

March 2007 bookstore sales dropped by 6.8 percent as compared to March 2006, from $1,071 million to $998 million. This was the ninth month in a row that book sales failed to keep pace with the previous years' results.

Overall retail sales, however, were up in March -- retail sales were $381 billion in March 2007 as compared to $364 billion in March 2006, an increase of 4.7 percent, based on preliminary figures.

(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.