With consumers pulling back on discretionary spending in a struggling economy, Christian bookstore chains, independents and marketing groups have been reporting sales down or flat.

"The economy is basically hitting consumers in their pocketbooks," said Rob Phillips, a spokesman for LifeWay Christian Resources, which terminated about 100 employees in September because revenues were lower than expected. "Discretionary spending is down all over."

Mardel Christian & Education President Jason Green said sales were flat in some categories and up in others. "Music is soft," he said. "I don't know if it's because of economic or the digital challenge." Meanwhile, DVDs and some areas of gifts were also "doing well."

On the plus side, Green said, the chain's books and Bible departments "have been stronger," citing good sales from the special-edition Operation Worship Bible-NLT (Tyndale House Publishers) for American military personnel.

At Wellspring Parable Christian Store in Des Moines, Iowa, co-owner Beverly Channell said her business was down 25% due to the economy. Music was "down more than ever, but DVDs are up," she said. "Gift books, fiction, (books on) prayer, devotionals and study guides are among the strongest (in) our book categories. Sales of study Bibles are the strongest in this department."

Channell noted that high gasoline prices were keeping people at home "where it's convenient to shop online."

Read the full report in the Sept. 22 issue of Christian Retailing.

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