Unit sales of print books rose 2% in the week ended Oct. 2, 2016, compared to the similar week in 2015, at outlets that report to Nielsen BookScan. The increase was led by the adult nonfiction segment, where units increased 5% over the week ended Oct. 4, 2015. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen’s memoir, landed at #1 in the adult nonfiction category in its first week on sale and was the top-selling book in the week overall, selling more than 117,000 copies. Two other new titles also sold well in their first week: Alton Brown: Everyday Cook by Alton Brown debuted in third place on the adult nonfiction bestsellers list, selling more than 19,000 copies, while The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein was fourth, selling more than 18,000 copies. Unit sales rose 2% in the week in the juvenile fiction category. While J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stayed in the top spot, selling more than 43,000 copies, The Fever Code by James Dashner landed in second place, selling more than 25,000 copies in its first week. With the film adaptation of The Girl on the Train set to be released this month, three versions of the book occupied the top three places on the adult fiction list, selling a combined 125,000 copies. Still, unit sales in the segment fell 1% in the week.
Unit Sales of Print Books by Channel
| Oct. 4, 2015 | Oct. 2, 2016* | Chge Week | Chge YTD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11,040 | 11,212 | 2% | 5% |
| Mass Merch./Other | 1,836 | 1,717 | -6% | -4% |
| Retail & Club | 9,204 | 9,495 | 3% | 6% |
Unit Sales of Print Books by Category
| Oct. 4, 2015 | Oct. 2, 2016* | Chge Week | Chge YTD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Nonfiction | 4,400 | 4,600 | 5% | 9% |
| Adult Fiction | 2,438 | 2,405 | -2% | -1% |
| Juvenile Nonfiction | 828 | 838 | 1% | 6% |
| Juvenile Fiction | 2,913 | 2,970 | 2% | 4% |
Unit Sales of Print Books by Format
| Oct. 4, 2015 | Oct. 2, 2016* | Chge Week | Chge YTD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 2,877 | 2,954 | 3% | 6% |
| Trade Paperback | 6,023 | 6,166 | 2% | 6% |
| Mass Market Paperback | 1,171 | 1,107 | -5% | -8% |
| Board Books | 612 | 627 | 2% | 9% |
| Audio | 76 | 65 | -14% | -13% |
*Totals for 2016 include units sold through Family Christian Stores. No sales through Family Christian are included in 2015.
Source: Nielsen BookScan and Publishers Weekly. Nielsen BookScan’s U.S. Consumer Market Panel covers approximately 80% of the print book market and continues to grow.
