Book Sales Rose 0.9% Last Year, But Paperback Sales Fell
Book publishers sold 3.13 billion units last year, up from 3.1 in 2006, although mass market, smaller size paperbacks (often thrillers and romances) are falling out of favor. Their sales dropped to 541.8 million copies, from 575.1 in 2006. The industry is gathering in Los Angeles today for the second day of BookExpo America, during a “…time of uncertainty and of overall economic concern.” Unit sales for 2007 are projected to drop by 0.7 percent, according to Book Industry Trends, an annual report that analyses sales in the U.S. Among its other findings: young adult books are propping up the broader juvenile category and professional books (about business, law, medicine, etc.) are converting to digital formats faster than other categories. If book marketers have reason to for concern 2008 trends, they can at least pause to enjoy their convention. In addition to the parties, convention goers are enjoying appearances by the artist again known as Prince, Alec Baldwin and Ted Turner. (There are plenty of other details in this good round-up about the book industry.) The New York Times (May 30, 2008)
Tags: Book Industry Trends 2008, book sales, BookExpo America, paperback sales