Book Publisher Sales Declined in July 2017

After several months of increases, publishers’ revenues (sales to bookstores, wholesalers, direct to consumer, online retailers, etc.) declined by 11.7% in July 2017 compared to July 2016. Revenues for Jan. – July 2017 were relatively flat, up by 0.2%, according to the most recent StatShot data from the Association of American Publishers. Tracked categories include: Trade – fiction/non-fiction/religious, PreK-12 Instructional Materials, Higher Education Course Materials, Professional Publishing, and University Presses.

Revenues for trade books (fiction/non-fiction/religious) declined in July, and were flat (down 0.3%) for the year-to-date, compared to the same periods in 2016. The only category to see growth in July 2017 was Religious Presses, which saw a 4.4% revenue increase in July 2017 compared to July 2016; despite that growth, the category remains down year to date. The only format that saw growth in July was downloaded audio, which saw 23.8% revenue growth compared to July 2016.

Despite the overall revenue decline in trade, downloaded audio had another strong month with revenues up 23.8% in July 2017 compared to July 2016. Revenues for eBook and most print book formats declined, the exception being children’s board books which saw revenues increases of 2.6% in July.

Higher Education and PreK-12 publishers saw revenues decline during July, down 10.7% and 8.0% respectively compared to the prior year. From Jan. to July 2017, Higher Education saw slight 1.6% revenue growth and PreK-12 was flat at 0.1% growth.

Professional Books declined by 6.2% and University Presses were flat at 0.2% in July 2017 compared to 2016.
more details at:  http://newsroom.publishers.org/book-publisher-sales-declined-in-july-2017/