The AAP released monthly sales statistics for both June and July, which remained consistent with the pattern from earlier in the year, though perked up in July. Most of the year’s growth is coming children’s and young adult books, which have been up year-over-year for all seven reported months, though you can see in our chart below that those gains faded in June and July. Meanwhile, adult sales turned around in July — gaining $13 million, or 3.7 percent — after falling for four straight months, mostly on weaker hardcover sales. (Even in July, adult hardcover sales were down $5.1 million, but both trade and mass market paperbacks gained more than enough to put the month in positive territory.) Total trade sales were $496 million in June (up $15 million from a year ago) and $500 million in July (up $28 million).
Also consistent with the year’s pattern, overall ebook sales were up modestly — by $11 million (8.5 percent) in June, and $6.5 million (5 percent) in July — almost entirely due to gains in children’s/YA ebooks. Adult ebook sales are flat for the first seven months, up just $1.3 million, at $747 million; children’s/YA ebooks are up to $151 million so far in 2014, gaining $56 million compared to the same period in 2013. That puts total ebook sales of $898 million through July up 6.8 percent so far. Overall, ebooks comprise 26 percent of trade sales for the year, which stand at $3.418 billion. Total trade sales are running 4.3 percent ahead of 2013, up $141 million.
For a comprehensive overview of 2014 statistics date, along with more background on AAP statistics historically, check out our cool “master page” for AAP data. Below is our updated chart:
| 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 |