January bookstore sales fell 3.7%, to $1.5 billion, compared to January 2016, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau.
Total retail sales in January rose 5.4%, to $422.7 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."