Bookstore sales in October were $1.006 billion, down 2.3%, from $1.030
billion in the same month in 2005, according to preliminary estimates
from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Bureau revised September sales
downward to $1.483 billion from $1.497 billion.
For the year to date, bookstore sales were $13.067 billion, down 1.8% from $13.306 billion in the first ten months of 2005.
Through June sales for the year to date had been up 0.8%, but with the
9.3% drop in sales in July compared to July 2005, year to date sales
slipped into negative territory.
By comparison, total retail sales in October rose 4.3% to $319.0 billion from $305.8
billion in October 2005. For the year to date, total retail sales rose
6.6% to $3.2 trillion from $3.0 trillion in the same period in 2005.
Note: under Census Bureau definitions, bookstore sales are of new books
and do not include "electronic home shopping, mail-order, or direct
sale" or used book sales.
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In
related news, retail sales in November rose 1%, according to the
Commerce Department, the largest jump since July, Reuters reported.
"The holiday sales season has started in very good form," Richard J.
DeKaser, chief economist at the National City Corp., said. "This could
mean consumer spending growth of 3% or better."