Bookstores Sales Decreased In August

Bookstores had a slow start to the typically busy autumn season, according to US Census Bureau data. This August saw retail sales decrease 10.31% over the same period 2018, bringing the year-to-date sales total to a point 6.10% below last year.

The month, which marks back-to-school season, is always one of the busiest in a year. August sales, however, have been decreasing since 2014 (sales that year increased 8.35% over August of 2013)-aside from 2018, that is. 2018 saw sales remain at the same level as August of 2017 ($1.368 billion compared to 2017's $1.372 billion).

Other busy months during the year include January and December-notable for the gift purchases many make across the country during that time. January of this year saw its sales decrease 10.48% over January of 2018. The remaining months of 2018 saw sales decrease an average of 5.90%, excluding April, which saw a 3.48% sales increase, and May, whose sales were flat.