Bookstore sales closed out the first half of 2009 by posting their only monthly increase for the year so far: June sales rose 3.4%, to $1.10 billion. The bookstore gain came amid reports from some publishers that business began picking up slightly in June, a trend that carried into July. Still, for the six-month period, total bookstore sales were down 2.7%, compared to the first half of 2008, declining to $7.41 billion. Figures include all sales from stores that generate at least 50% of their revenue from books, and includes college stores that fall within that definition.
Bookstore Sales, January—June
(In millions)
| Month | 2008 | 2009 | % CHANGE |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau | |||
| January | $2,271.0 | $2,233.0 | -1.7% |
| February | 1,139.0 | 1,010.0 | -11.3 |
| March | 1,012.0 | 998.0 | -1.4 |
| April | 994.0 | 962.0 | -3.2 |
| May | 1,141.0 | 1,108.0 | -2.9 |
| June | 1,065.0 | 1,101.0 | 3.4 |
| Total | 7,622.0 | 7,412.0 | -2.7% |
