In May, the U.S. Census released statistics for bookstore sales. In March, they rose 1.1% to $931 million.

For the first quarter, bookstore sales were up to $4.03 billion. That’s a 2.2% increase over the first quarter of 2012.

Compare that to the 2.6% rise across the entire retail business, and you realize that books are as important to today’s buyers as designer jeans and bling. Go, books!