Bookstore Sales Rise Again in May, Up 3.1%

May bookstore sales rose 3.1%, to $826 million, compared to May 2015, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau.

This marked the ninth month in a row that bookstore have risen, following a gain of 9.7% in April, 10.7% in March, 7.2% in February, 3.8% in January, 9.6% in December, and rises of nearly 7% in September and October and 7.5% in November.

For the year to date, bookstore sales have risen 6.1%, to $4.66 billion.

Total retail sales in May rose 1.5%, to $469.5 billion. For the year to date, total retail sales have risen 3.1%, to $2,129 billion.

Note: under Census Bureau definitions, the bookstore category consists of "establishments primarily engaged in retailing a general line of new books. These establishments may also sell stationery and related items, second-hand books, and magazines."

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