The Pew Research Center released their latest survey of Americans’ reading habits, conducted in March and April. (Note in particular that it is a survey — of 1,900 adults.) Liberated of the need to drive front-page narratives, the Pew data is fairly consistent with their previous findings. The less positive news is that, in line with a year with fewer “must read” hit books as of the spring, the percentage of Americans who read at least one book in either print or ebook form fell to 72 percent — down from 76 percent the year before, and 79 percent in 2011, […]
Industry Statistics
GREY Boosts Trade Sales in June
The AAP reported June sales from their approximately 1,200 reporting publishers, with sales turning positive, due almost entirely to adult trade paperback sales, no doubt the result of the June 21 publication of GREY by EL James. Adult sales of $377 million were up $26.6 million (or 7.6 percent), with trade paperbacks rising $27.6 million (or 29 percent) to $123.6 million. Per the year’s trend, however, hardcover sales remained weak, falling $18.1 million (or 17 percent) to $91 million for the month. Children’s and YA sales also did not benefit from the overall uptick, falling $3.1 million, or 2.6 percent, also weak in […]
Trade Sales Fall In May
The AAP reported May sales from their approximately 1,200 reporting publishers, with a soft April giving way to across the board declines. Adult sales of $364 million were down $19 million (or 5 percent), with adult hardcover sales falling $23 million (or 17 percent) to $110 million for the month. Children’s and YA sales fell $13.6 million, or 9 percent, also weak in hardcovers (even as children’s paperbacks rose $8.4 million, to $56.6 million for the month). And yes, eBook sales declined as well, at $106.6 million, down $16.3 million (or 13 percent). As in previous months, the falloff was bigger in children’s […]
Briefs: Pearson Sells The Economist, Too; GIRL ON THE TRAIN US Sales Reach 3 Million; and More
Following the recent sale of the Financial Times to Nikkei, Pearson has now sold its 50 percent stake in The Economist Group as well, for £469 million (or $731 million). Three-fifths of their stake (or a 30 percent share in the Economist) goes to Exor, the holding company for minority shareholder Agnelli, while the remaining portion (a 20 percent share) has been bought back by the Economist Group itself, funded by the sale of their headquarters, the Economist Complex, which has been the editorial team’s home for more than five decades. Pearson noted the “proposed changes will be put to a shareholder vote next month […]
Soft April AAP Sales Confirm eBook Declines
Trade sales as reported by the AAP fell by a modest $6.5 million to $488.4 million overall for April, with small gains in adult sales overtaken by a $15 million drop in children’s/YA sales. The biggest gap for the month was ebook sales, which fell by $20.6 million to $120.2 million, down almost 15 percent compared to a year ago. Both adult and children’s/YA ebook sales fell in April, and it was the fourth monthly decline in a row for ebooks, with the format down 10 percent so far in 2015, declining $51.7 million to $476.4 million so far. Digital […]
Trade Sales Rebound In March, Still Driven By Adult Trade Paperbacks
The AAP released delayed statistics for March sales, with trade sales rebounding from a weak February to rise $14.5 million (up 3 percent), at $456.5 million. As has been the case across the first quarter, adult trade paperbacks led the gains, up 9.3 percent, at $104 million, and adult hardcovers remained soft, at $96.5 million down 6.3 percent. Children’s sales remained down in all major categories without new breakout hits this year, down 11 percent overall at $101 million. eBook sales were down for the straight month, though this time down only slightly, by $1.1 million. Adult ebook sales rose $4.7 million to $97.8 […]