Not to sound like an economist....

Sales: Bookstore Sales Up 9.3% in February

February bookstore sales rose 9.3%, to $1.107 billion, compared to February 2010, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau. For the year to date, bookstore sales have slipped 0.5% to $3.289 billion. (Note: under Census Bureau definitions, bookstore sales are of new books and do not include "electronic home shopping, mail-order, or direct sale" or used book sales.)

Shelf Awareness, 4/14/11.


Ah, hem. Bookstores are down only .5% for the year, despite the huge increase in e-book sales.

Not quite the end of the world, yet.