Pearson issued a brief trading update, telling us less than usual since they report on the last nine months but omit any details on the third quarter by itself. Sales are said to be up 10 percent on an “underlying” basis — but after six months, sales were up 17 percent on an “underlying” basis and only 7 percent on an actual, reported basis. Higher ed sales continue to decline — from a low comparison bar — falling 7 percent “as growth in international courseware, including Canada and the UK, was offset by a decline in US Higher Education Courseware.” […]