US bookshop sales down 65% in April

According to US Census Bureau estimates, bookshop sales fell 65.3% in April compared to the same month in 2019, reports Publishers Weekly.

Physical sales at bookshops fell in April by US$412 million (A$598m) to a total of US$219 million (A$318m), as many shops across the country were closed due to stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of Covid-19. It came after a 33.4% year-on-year drop in March—during which time many shops were closed for about half the month.

Total US retail sales dropped by 19.4% in April compared to 2019.

According to Publishers Weekly, April is expected to be the worst month for bricks-and-mortar stores, with the Bureau’s advance sales data for May showing a total US retail sales rise of 17.7% over April, with a decrease of just 6.2% compared to May 2019.

Category: International news