December bookstore sales rose 2.9%, to $1.7 billion, compared to December 2011, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau. For the year, bookstore sales slipped 0.5%, to $15.2 billion.
Total retail sales in December rose 5.3%, to $469.1 billion, compared to the same period a year ago. In 2012, total retail sales rose 5.2%, to $4,889.7 billion.
During the year, bookstore sales rose and fell in waves. In January, bookstore sales were even with the same period in 2011, while in February and March bookstore sales dropped 4% and 3.8%, respectively, then rebounded in April by 3.8%; in May by 5.7%; in June by 3.8%; and in July by 1.2%. In August, sales fell by 0.8%, and dropped another 8.3% in September (which was a boom month in bookstore sales in 2011 because of Borders's liquidation sales). In the last quarter, bookstore sales grew again, rising 4.6% in October; 3.3% in November; and 2.9% in December.
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."