Bookstore sales in February were $1.052 billion, down 1.7% from $1.07
billion in February 2005, according to estimates from the U.S. Census
Bureau. By contrast, total retail sales in February were $286.4 billion, up 7.4%
from $266.7 billion in February 2005.
For the year to date, bookstore sales have risen $3.2 billion, up 2.3% from $3.1 billion in the same period a year ago.
The Census Bureau revised January bookstore sales upwards to $2.143 billion from its original estimate of $1.964 billion. As a result, instead of showing a drop, January sales rose 4.4% over the same period in 2005.
Similarly the Bureau revised upwards bookstore sales for all of 2005 to $16.224 billion. As a result, instead of falling 1.85%, 2005 bookstores sales were down 1%.
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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The Association of American Publishers's monthly sales report, based on statistics supplied by publishers, pegged net sales in February at $358.4 million, up 12.3% over February 2005. For the year to date, net sales rose 6.6% to $945.9 million. Categories with the biggest gains were higher education, up 155.7% to $10.4 million, and adult mass market, up 103.1% to $54.3 million. Other strong categories were all soft format: children's/YA paperback, up 23.6%; university press paperback, up 56.7%; and adult paperback, up 18.1%.
Categories with the biggest drops were children's/YA hardcover, down 42.1%; religious books, down 33.7%; and university press hardcover, off 20.5%.
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In related news, general retail sales in March rose 0.6%, an improvement over February's 0.8% drop, according to figures issued by the Commerce Department yesterday. Bookstores were among the categories of retailers with gains.
Economists agreed that the year was off to a good start, although many predict a slowdown later in the year. In March, a gain in jobs apparently lifted consumer confidence and helped blunt the effect of rising interest rates, higher gasoline prices and a cooling housing market.
For the year to date, bookstore sales have risen $3.2 billion, up 2.3% from $3.1 billion in the same period a year ago.
The Census Bureau revised January bookstore sales upwards to $2.143 billion from its original estimate of $1.964 billion. As a result, instead of showing a drop, January sales rose 4.4% over the same period in 2005.
Similarly the Bureau revised upwards bookstore sales for all of 2005 to $16.224 billion. As a result, instead of falling 1.85%, 2005 bookstores sales were down 1%.
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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The Association of American Publishers's monthly sales report, based on statistics supplied by publishers, pegged net sales in February at $358.4 million, up 12.3% over February 2005. For the year to date, net sales rose 6.6% to $945.9 million. Categories with the biggest gains were higher education, up 155.7% to $10.4 million, and adult mass market, up 103.1% to $54.3 million. Other strong categories were all soft format: children's/YA paperback, up 23.6%; university press paperback, up 56.7%; and adult paperback, up 18.1%.
Categories with the biggest drops were children's/YA hardcover, down 42.1%; religious books, down 33.7%; and university press hardcover, off 20.5%.
---
In related news, general retail sales in March rose 0.6%, an improvement over February's 0.8% drop, according to figures issued by the Commerce Department yesterday. Bookstores were among the categories of retailers with gains.
Economists agreed that the year was off to a good start, although many predict a slowdown later in the year. In March, a gain in jobs apparently lifted consumer confidence and helped blunt the effect of rising interest rates, higher gasoline prices and a cooling housing market.