Bookstore sales dipped less than 1% in August, falling to $2.38 billion from $2.40 billion in August 2011, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Last year, Borders going-out-of-business sales peaked in August, which is also a big month for college bookstore sales. For the first eight months of 2012, bookstore sales were virtually flat at $10.3 billion.

For the entire retail segment sales were up 6% in both the month and the year to date.