Book Sales Up, Overall Publisher Revenue Down in First Half of 2015

By Dianna Dilworth 

Trade book sales were up 0.3 percent among publishers from January to July, as compared to the same time period in 2014.

However, overall publisher revenue was down 2 percent during the seven months at $8.37 billion. These metrics include book sales from more than 1,200 publishers across several categories including: Trade (fiction, non-fiction, religious), K-12 Instructional Materials, Higher Education Course Materials, Professional Publishing, and University Presses.

Interestingly, book sales in July were up among trade books. Adult book sales were up 10.9 percent, Children/YA Book sales were up 11.5 percent and Religious Presses saw book sales up 14. percent as compared to July 2014.