US Bookstore Sales Jump in February, Sixth Gain in a Row

Shelf Awareness

Bookstore sales in February rose 7.2%, to $732 million, compared to February 2015, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau. This marked the sixth consecutive month that bookstore sales have risen, following a gain of 3.8% in January, a jump of 9.6% in December, rises of nearly 7% in September and October, and 7.5% in November.

For the year to date, bookstore sales have risen 4.8%, to $2.1 billion.

Total retail sales in February rose 6.9%, to $412.3 billion. For the year to date, total retail sales have risen 3.9%, to $812.5 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."