Bookstore Sales Dipped in '04

by Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 3/7/2005

Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show total bookstore sales in 2004 fell 0.8%, to $16.67 billion. Sales for the entire retail segment rose 8% in the year. Bookstore sales in December were flat, at $2.12 billion, compared to a 9.1% increase for all of retail. The Census Bureau will issue final sales figures later this year, and those revisions could push total 2004 bookstore sales up over 2003.