Bookstore sales in April were $937 million, down 4.3% from $979 billion in April 2005, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. By contrast, total retail sales in April were $321.7 billion, up 5.4% from $304.2 billion in April 2005.

The Census Bureau revised March sales up slightly, to $1.041 billion, from $1.040 billion.

For the year to date, bookstore sales were $5.173 billion, down 0.2% from $5.184 billion in the same period a year ago. Through March, this year's bookstore sales had been up versus the previous year to date.

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.