Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

Image. Advertisement:

US bookstore sales down in 2017

Preliminary estimates from the US Census Bureau indicate bookstore sales in the US dropped 3.6% in 2017 compared to 2016, reports Publishers Weekly.

Sales in 2017 are estimated at $10.73 billion (A$13.55 billion), down from $11.14 billion (A$14.07 billion) the year before. Sales slumped in the second half of last year, despite rising in the first part of 2017 over 2016, with bookstore sales down over the last five months of 2017. December sales were down 8.5% over the same period in 2016, dropping to US$1.18 billion (A$1.49 billion) from US$1.29 billion (A$1.63 billion).

US bookstore sales rose in 2016 over 2015, the first annual increase in eight years.

The Census Bureau will release revised figures later in the year, which could change the sales comparison between 2016 and 2017. The Census Bureau’s preliminary estimates for 2015 showed a sales increase over 2014, but revised figures showed sales declined in 2015 compared to 2014.

 

Category: International news