Chains Post 5-Year Sales Gain of 27%

Total sales at Barnes & Noble, Borders Group and Books-A-Million increased 27% between 1999 and 2003, rising from $6.6 billion to $8.4 billion last year (see "Book Chain Sales Rose 6.9% in 2003"). Sales have increased every year in the period, with the strongest gains in 2000 and 2003. Figures include sales of all items sold by the stores, from DVDs to coffee. PW estimates that books represented about 70%—80% of sales in 2003.