U.S. book sales were up 7.2 percent in Jan. ’08, according to the Association of American Publishers.
Sales were driven by the adult categories:
- Adult hardcover — $94.4 million/+4.2 percent over Jan. ’07
- Adult paperback — $135.2 million/+37.6 percent
- Adult mass market — $65.3 million/+17.3 percent
The children’s market splintered. Children/young-adult paperback sales were up 28.2 percent ($34 million), but hardcover titles were down 21.9 percent ($33.6 million).
Ebooks and audio books saw double-digit growth: ebooks posted $3.1 million in sales, an increase of 26.1 percent over Jan. ’07; audio books brought in $13.5 million, a boost of 16.8 percent from the same period a year ago.
Last week, bookstore sales figures from the U.S. Census Bureau showed a 4.7 percent increase in Jan. ’08.
(Via GalleyCat).