Bookstore sales had their strongest month of 2012 in May, rising 5.7%, to $1.09 billion, according to preliminary estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The increase followed a 4% gain in April and pulled bookstore sales in 2012 even with sales in 2011 for the first five months of the year. Sales in the period were $5.94 billion.

Retail sales in general were up 7% in May and 7% for the first five months of the year.