"Our soft sales in November are indicative of a basic industry trend," he said.

But the increases were largely offset by soft sales in other lines, he said.

But privately, many note that this spring was not a good one for hardcover book sales, after soft sales last year and in 1987.

Retailers reported generally soft sales for September, with especially disappointing results in stores open at least a year.

"Ultimately I think in the long run the soft sales from January will be a blip," he said.

"Some retailers had been expecting soft sales because they ran so many promotions a year ago," he said.

But the company said yesterday that the investors had asked to renegotiate the deal because of soft sales at Burger King.

Profits at the music business fell 4 percent, to $140 million, as the division suffered from soft sales both domestically and overseas.

The company attributed the decline to soft retail sales due in part to a consumer pullback during the gulf war.

Further, most stores that sell computers and housewares continued to report soft sales.