Holiday sales at the three major bookstore chains hit $2.27 billion in the just-completed holiday season, a gain of 2.8% over Christmas 2003. B&N had the largest increase, 3.9%, but Borders and Books-A-Million could point to the fact that the book segment outperformed most other product lines at their stores.

Chain Holiday Sales, 2003—2004 ($ in million)

2003 2004 % CHANGE
Barnes & Noble $1,050.1 $1,091.1 3.9%
Borders Group 1,046.7 1,065.4 1.8
Books-A-Million 111.4 114.1 2.4
TOTAL 2,208.2 2,270.6 2.8