Modest Gains In 2005
by Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 2/6/2006
Results from the AAP's monthly sales report shows that total book sales rose 6.5% in 2005. Sales are based on reports from 74 publishers, and adjusted figures encompassing the entire industry will be released later this year.
As expected, sales in the children's hardcover segment had the strongest year, up 59.6%. Sales in the elhi segment also had double-digit gains, at 10.5%, led by a 12.6% increase in basal sales.
The religious segment had a surprisingly weak 2005, and sales were off in the university press and professional segments.
| Category | % Change December | % Change YTD |
| Adult Hardcover | 20.1% | 1.4% |
| Adult Paperback | 20.9 | 9.5 |
| Adult Mass Market | -15.6 | 0.2 |
| Juvenile Hardcover | -13.2 | 59.6 |
| Juvenile Paperback | 34.7 | 10.6 |
| Audio Books | 44.7 | 29.0 |
| Electronic Books | 28.4 | 44.8 |
| Religious Books | -3.8 | -6.1 |
| Higher Education | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Univ. Pr. Hardcover | -38.4 | -32.2 |
| Univ. Pr. Paperback | 3.3 | -5.5 |
| Professional | 11.6 | -1.0 |
| Elhi | 2.2 | 10.5 |
| Other | -36.8 | -4.9 |
| Total | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| (Measured in $ sales against same time periods, 2004) | ||
