Bookstore sales rose from $741 million last May to $745 million in May 2018, according to preliminary estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The $4 million rise in sales amounted to a 0.5% increase year over year.
The small May gain is in keeping with the sluggish start bookstore sales have had in 2018. Through the January to May 2018 period, sales were down 2.1% compared to the same time frame last year, falling from $4.09 billion to $4.01 billion.
For the entire retail sector, sales were up 7.7% in May and 5.2% in the year-to-date.
