Bookstore Sales Drop in July  

-- Publishers Weekly, 9/12/2008 11:34:00 AM

As expected, bookstore sales fell in July, dropping 7.4%, to $1.12 billion, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Sales in July 2007 were driven by the record-setting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The July decline followed a 7% drop in June sales, a pattern consistent with the weak results posted for the second quarter by the major bookstore chains. For the first seven months of 2008, bookstore sales were up 1.7%, to $8.80 billion. For the entire retail segment, July sales rose 2.9% and year-to-date sales were up 3.2%.