Bookstore Sales Jump 5.3% in June

June bookstore sales rose 5.3%, to $699 million, compared to June 2017, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau.

For the year to date, bookstore sales were $4.7 billion, down 1% compared to the first half of 2017. The cumulative loss for 2018 so far is largely attributable to January results, when bookstore sales fell 8.6%.

In contrast to the average of all bookstores, indies have done very well: as of August 6, book unit sales among American Booksellers Association member stores have increased about 5% for this year compared to the same period in 2017, based on sales reported to the Indie Bestseller List, Bookselling This Week reported.

Total retail sales in June rose 5.7%, to $511 billion. For the year to date, total retail sales have risen 5.4%, to $2,920 billion.

Note: under Census Bureau definitions, the bookstore category consists of "establishments primarily engaged in retailing new books."

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