Trade sales as measured by the AAP turned significantly negative for the first time all year in September, ratifying concerns that the lack of new breakout hits might weigh on consumer traffic and sales during the most important months of the year. Total trade sales of $618 million were down $44 million (or 7 percent), compared to $662 million a year.
Adult sales, which have been soft all year, accounted for all of the decline and then some, down $58.5 million (or 12 percent). Once again, hardcover sales — or weak frontlist — fell the most, down $41.3 million. Children’s and YA sales continued to gain though less so than in previous months, up $15 million (or 9 percent), to $183 million. (Those gains will likely be moderate for the rest of the year, as comparisons will get more difficult versus Veronica Roth’s breakout in late 2013.)
eBook sales also followed their pattern from previous months: Adult ebook revenues were flat at $106 million, as children’s ebook sales gained $3.7 million, to $17 million.
Trade sales are still in positive territory for the year, up 3 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 |