Book retailer Barnes & Noble posted a 5% decrease in second-quarter sales to $1.2bn (£700m). Store sales decreased 5% to $1bn (£600m), with like-for-like sales down 6.9%
for the quarter.

Sales generated by the retailer’s website climbed to $102m (£62m) for the quarter, a 2% increase compared with the year before.

The retailer reported that consumers, grappling with falling home values and unemployment, have reduced spending on books and other non-essential products.