For Immediate Release

February 7, 2007

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

Book Sales Hold at Over $10 Billion in 2006

Wednesday, February 7, 2007, New York, NY: Books sales tracked by the Association of American Publishers for 2006 remained steady for the year, on par with figures from 2005, at $10,027.9 billion compared to 10,044.2 billion in 2005, a small decline of 0.2 percent. Net sales in December were down slightly by 0.6 percent for the month, at $1,396.4 million.

The Adult Hardcover category was up by 16.6 percent in December compared to the prior year, with sales of $155.4 million; sales were also up by 4.1 percent for the calendar year.  Adult Paperback sales were down 19.3 percent for the month ($105.0 million), with an increase of 8.5 percent for the year.  The Adult Mass Market category declined by 12.8 percent for December with sales totaling $55.3 million; however, sales were up 4.6 percent year-to-date.  The Children’s/YA Hardcover category saw a drop of 11.3 percent for the month with sales of $44.9 million; sales year-to-date were down by 29.0 percent.   The Children’s/YA Paperback category fell by 17.7 percent in December with sales totaling $36.2 million; sales were also down by 1.3 percent for the year.

Audio Book sales posted a decrease of 11.4 percent for December compared to last year’s figures with sales totaling $13.4 million; sales for the whole year were down by 11.7 percent.  E-books sales rose by 38.0 percent for the month ($3.0 million); the category also posted an increase of 24.1 percent for the year.  Religious Books were down 8.3 percent for December ($50.6 million) and were also down 10.2 percent for the year.

Sales of University Press Hardcover books were up 7.8 percent in December with sales of $7.8 million; sales were up by 4.1 percent for the year.  University Press Paperback sales increased 5.1 percent for the month with sales totaling $11.0 million; sales were also up 4.7 percent for the year.  Sales in the Professional and Scholarly category posted an increase of 4.6 percent in December ($113.6 million); sales were also up 2.3 percent for the year.

Higher Education publishing sales were up by 1.9 percent for the month ($797.3 million) and sales were also up by 2.8 percent for the year.  Finally, the net El-Hi (elementary/high school) basal and supplemental K-12 category posted a decrease of 1.8 percent in December with sales of $130.1 million; this category also posted a decrease of 5.8 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

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