Bookstore Sales Finally Rise

-- Publishers Weekly, 9/14/2007 7:23:00 AM

The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sparked at 7.3% jump in bookstore sales in July, the first time sales increased this year. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, sales in July were $1.19 billion, up from $1.11 billion last year. The solid July gain, however, was not enough to boost sales for the entire year, which were down 3.2% for the seven month period. For the entire retail segment, sales were up 3.5% in July and ahead 3.9% for the year to date.