Chains' sales rose 2.7% in Third Quarter. (Market Conditions).(Brief Article)

TOTAL REVENUES of the nation's three major bookstore chains--Barnes & Noble, Borders Group and Books-A-Million--increased 2.7%, to $1.60 billion, for the third quarter ended October 31, 2001. The gain was the smallest in the current fiscal year, following increases of 5.7% in the first quarter and 6.1% in the second.

BAM, which had the largest increase in the quarter, at 8.5%, benefited from the inclusion of 18 Crown Books stores the company bought earlier in the year. The retailer also opened up three superstores in the quarter while closing one, giving BAM 157 superstores at the end of the quarter. Its roster also includes 51 Bookland stores and six Joe Muggs …