Bookseller Barnes & Noble recorded a 2.5% increase in consolidated revenues to $1.5bn (£948.4m) for its first quarter ended July 28. Net loss narrowed to $41m (£25.9m) as a result of cost savings. Sales at the retailer’s stores rose 2% during the period, or 4.6% on a like-for-like basis, benefiting from the closure of rival Borders stores and a strong line-up of releases including the Fifty Shades of Grey series.

Ecommerce sales of physical books at Bn.com fell in the period as more customers shifted to digital downloads. The retailer’s Nook subsidiary reported a 46% jump in digital content sales. However, Nook device sales fell because of lower selling prices and unmet demand for the new GlowLight ereader.