Whether it was distractions caused by the presidential election or some other factors, bookstore sales had their weakest month of 2004 in October. According to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, bookstore sales fell 4.8% in October, to $1.06 billion, while sales for the entire retail segment rose 6.3%. For the first 10 months of the year, bookstore sales were down 0.8%, to $13.48 billion; sales for all of retail were up 7.7%.