For Immediate Release

December 11, 2006

Contact: Tina Jordan
Ph: 212-255-0200 x263
Email: tjordan@publishers.org

Book Sales Continue to Climb in October

December 11, 2006, New York, NY: Books sales continued their upward swing in October for most of the categories tracked by the Association of American Publishers (AAP).   Net sales were up by 13.8 percent for the month; however, year-to-date sales were down slightly by 0.3 percent.

The Adult Hardcover category was up by 29.4 percent in October with sales of $295.1 million; sales were also up by 1.0 percent for the year.  Adult Paperback sales were up 5.2 percent for the month ($120.5 million), with an increase of 13.8 percent for the year.  The Adult Mass Market category rose 25.0 percent for October  with sales totaling $76.4 million; sales were up 7.5 percent for the year.  The Children’s/YA Hardcover category posted an increase of 4.0 percent in October with sales of $83.0 million; however sales were down by 32.5 percent year-to-date.   The Children’s/YA Paperback category saw a decline of 9.5 percent for the month with sales totaling $52.3 million; sales were up 1.0 percent for the year.

Audio Book sales were up by 47.1 percent for the month with sales totaling $23.9 million; sales for the year were down by 15.4 percent.  E-books saw an increase of 34.2 percent for the month ($2.1 million); the category also posted an increase of 26.2 percent for the year.  Religious Books were down 4.1 percent for October ($72.3 million) and 9.5 percent for the year.

Sales of University Press Hardcover books posted a 6.9 percent gain in October with sales of $6.7 million; sales were up by 4.2 percent for the year.  University Press Paperback sales grew by 13.2 percent for the month with sales totaling $5.3 million; sales were up 6.5 percent for the year.  Sales in the Professional and Scholarly category posted an increase of 4.9 percent for the month ($45.5 million); sales were up by 2.0 percent for the year.

Higher Education publishing sales decreased by 15.9 percent for October ($-11.8 million, this negative amount is due to returns); sales were up by 3.1 percent for the year.  Finally, the net El-Hi (elementary/high school) basal and supplemental K-12 category posted a decrease of 25.3 percent in October with sales of $168.6 million; this category also posted a decrease of 5.5 percent for the year.

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP’s more than 300 members include most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies—small and large. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and electronic products and services. The protection of intellectual property rights in all media, the defense of the freedom to read and the freedom to publish at home and abroad, and the promotion of reading and literacy are among the Association’s highest priorities.
 
NOTE: All sales figures cited in this release are domestic net sales

###