December bookstore sales fell 0.5%, to $1.48 billion, compared to December 2012, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau. For the year, bookstore sales fell 1.6%, to $13.2 billion. In 2013, sales improved in January, March and September over 2012, but were down every other month, in part because of high sales a year earlier of the Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey trilogies.
Total retail sales in December rose 3.7%, to $485.9 billion, compared to the same period a year ago. For the year to date, total retail sales have risen 4.2%, to $5,084 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."