I think the problem is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. I had a conversation with one of the managers of a local branch of a national chain about the increasing number of empty shelves and the removal of entire book cases. This went along with the last four books that I would have purchased there but couldn't because they didn't have them, and are no longer allowed to special order them. In the past they definitely would have carried them.
Seems that all purchasing decisions are now done on a national basis based on crystal ball predictions of what will sell. Local buying patterns are no longer considered. All that expensive computer power is now disregarded. And, in a dumb effort to cut costs, they are only stocking what they consider "sure sellers". You definitely cannot sell something you don't stock - a self fulling action if I've ever seen one.
Pretty soon it's going to be down to Amazon and the Pirates.