Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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US publishing sales up 12%: AAP

US publishers have recorded a 12.2% increase in sales for 2021, according to the latest data from the Association of American Publisher’s StatShot program, reports Publishers Weekly.

Sales from the 1369 publishers who report data totalled US$15.4 billion (A$21.6b) last year, up from $13.7 billion (A$19.2b) in 2020. The increase was led by a rebound in sales in the K–12 instructional materials category, as well as a solid year for trade segments.

Sales in the K–12 category were up 34.6% last year, after falling 19.6% in 2020. Adult books, the industry’s largest segment, rose 11.4% last year, and children’s and YA rose 12.9%.

Gains in print and digital audiobook sales drove the adult trade sales growth. Trade paperback titles and hardcover sales were up 18.6% and 11.6% respectively, while mass market sales were up 5.5%. Digital audiobook sales were up 15.6% to US$659 million (A$925.8m), and accounted for 10.8% of adult revenue. Ebook sales were down 3.7% on last year, after rising 11% in 2020. Their sales accounted for 14.7% of adult sales.

As previously reported, NPD BookScan data found US print book sales were up 8.9% in 2021 compared to 2020.

 

Category: International news