After a significantly negative turn in September, trade sales measured by the AAP fared more positively in October. Total trade sales of $757.5 million were up $83 million (or 11 percent), compared to $674 million a year ago.
Adult sales, which have been soft all year, rebounded in October, up $52.5 million (or 11 percent). Hardcover sales of $238.3 million were up $29.3 million (or 14 percent) from the same period last year, while both trade and mass market paperback saw gains of 14.6 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively, for the month. Children’s and YA sales continued to rise, up $31.2 million (or 14 percent), to $220 million.
eBook sales also generally followed their pattern from previous months: Adult ebook revenues were down 1.7 percent at $105 million, as children’s ebook sales gained $0.7 million, to $14.6 million.
Trade sales are still in positive territory for the year, up about 4 percent, though current indications point towards finishing 2014 flat or down slightly. Here is our cumulative comparison chart for the year so far:
| Month | Adult Sales | Change vs. 2013 | Children's/YA Sales | Change vs. 2013 | eBook Sales | Change vs. 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | $362 million | +$10 million | $144 million | +$44 million | $137 million | +$15.5 million |
| February | $325 million | +$6 million | $137 million | +$35 million | $139 million | +$5.5 million |
| March | $316.5 million | -$23.5 million | $133 million | +$22 million | $108.5 million | -$7.5 million |
| April | $363 million | -$20 million | $128 million | +$24 million | $138.5 million | +$19.5 million |
| May | $371 million | -$37 million | $154 million | +$39 million | $120 million | +$3 million |
| June | $367.5 million | -$3 million | $129 million | +$18.5 million | $129 million | +$11 million |
| July | $367 million | +$13 million | $133 million | +$15 million | $127 million | +$6.5 million |
| August | $415 million | +$8 million | $179 million | +$29 million | $124.5 million | +$2.5 million |
| September | $435 million | -$58.5 million | $183 million | +$15 million | $123 million | +$4 million |
| October | $537.1 million | +$52.5 million | $220.4 million | +$31.2 million | $120 million | -$1 million |
| November | $441.9 million | -$37.3 million | $190.6 million | +$23.6 million | $116 million | -$5.6 million |
| December | $432.1 million | +$35.5 million | $159 million | +$29.1 million | $133.5 million | +$13.8 million |
| Full Year | $4.744 billion | -$67.7 million | $1.887 billion | +$325 million | $1.519 billion | +$70 million |
| January 2015 | $393 million | +$26.7 million | $140.3 million | -$1.6 million | $129.4 million | -$10.9 million |
| February 2015 | $305 million | -$24 million | $87 million | -$40 million | $117 million | -$21 million |
| March 2015 | $356 million | $38.3 million | $101 million | -$23.8 million | $110 million | -$1.1 million |
| April 2015 | $488 million | -$6.5 million | $120 million | -$20.6 million | $120 million | -$20.6 million |