For Immediate Release

July 13 , 2006

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

BOOK SALES TAKE SMALL DIP IN MAY

Monthly Sales Down but Year To-Date Sees Growth

July 13, 2006, New York, NY:  Books sales took a slight dip for the month of May in most of the categories tracked by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), however, sales for the year were up. Net sales were down by 1.7 percent for the month, while year-to-date sales were up by 3.2 percent. Adult Paperback sales continued to climb with an increase of 19.6 percent (sales totaled $100.1 million), with an increase of 20.5 percent year- to-date.  The Children’s/YA Hardcover category posted a growth of 7.5 percent for May with sales totaling $38.2 million, however sales dipped slightly for the year by 7.6 percent.

Sales for the Adult Hardcover category dropped by 14.7 percent in May with sales of $103.5 million; sales were down by 11.6 percent year- to-date.  The Children’s/YA Paperback category saw a decline of 17.9 percent for the month with sales totaling $32.2 million; sales were down slightly by 1.6 percent year-to-date as well. 

Audio Book sales dipped 13.6 percent in May with sales totaling $14.9 million; sales were down 4.6 percent for the year.  E-books saw a rise of 32.4 percent with sales of $1.4 million; as well as in increase of 24.8 percent for the year.  Religious Books dropped by 21.4 percent ($13.9 million) and saw a 21.7 percent decrease for the year. 

Sales of University Press Hardcover books saw a 4.6 percent loss in May with sales of $6.3 million; this category is down 1.7 percent for the year.  University Press Paperback fell 4.4 percent with sales totaling $3.3 million; sales were up5.8 percent for the year.  Sales in the Professional and Scholarly category posted a small decline of 4.4 percent for the month, with sales of $46.4 million; however, sales were up by 5.9 percent for the year.

Higher Education publishing sales saw a 1.8 decline in May with sales totaling $96.3 million; sales were up by 5.8 percent for the year.  Finally, the net El-Hi (elementary/high school) basal and supplemental K-12 category posted an increase of 2.0 percent in May with sales of $343.9 million; however it declined by 1.2 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 book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies.  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 intellectual freedom and the promotion of reading and literacy are among the Association’s primary concerns.

NOTE: All sales figures cited in this release are domestic net sales

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