Bookstore sales fell to $13.19 billion in 2013, down 1.6% compared to 2012, according to preliminary estimates released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau. The decline is the lowest since 2007, the last year during which bookstore sales increased, peaking at $17.17 billion. Since that time, bookstore sales have fallen 23.1%. The severest decline came in 2011, when Borders closed all of its outlets and e-book sales accelerated sharply, causing overall bookstore sales to drop 10.2% compared to 2010. Between 2011 and 2013, bookstore sales fell a relatively modest 4.9%.

Bookstore Sales 2009–2013

($ in billions)

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 % Change 2009–13
Annual Sales $15.94 $15.44 $13.86 $13.40 $13.19 -17.2%
% Changes -5.5% -3.1% -10.2% -3.3% -1.6%