MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
August 1-15, 2004 Edition
June Publishing Sales
Show Significant Growth
NEW YORK, NY/07/28/04Publishing sales projected to both ends of a continuum in June. Six categories tracked by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) experienced significant growth for that month, however, June also brought in losses in two categories that paralyzed growth for the month in domestic sales; El-hi book publishing sales were down slightly as well. The net year to date number still reflects growth in publishing sales for 2004, although by an ever so slightly dipping margin in the past two months, not as yet constituting a cause for alarm.
Sales of adult hardcover books grew an overwhelming 58.7 percent in June, with sales of $120.6 million (up 26.9 percent for the year). Adult paperback sales gained a slightly less spine-tingling 4.2 percent in June (with sales of $83.0 million), and with the year to date figure up by an encouraging 6.2 percent. The adult mass market category continued its upward swing with 9.0 percent growth for June, with sales of $66.4 million for this category. Alas, adult mass market sales once again failed to break the deficient year to date figure, which stands at 4.2 percent.
The childrens and young adult hardcover category asserted the most significant downward pressure on June numbers, posting an 82.0 percent slide ($28.1 million); the category has fallen below the June 2003 year to date figure by 44.1 percent. The childrens and young adult paperback publishing sales lost a comparatively insignificant 5.8 percent with sales totaling $26.6 million for June. This category is, however, down a slight 0.4 percent for the year.
Audio book sales, witnessed a 41.7 percent decline in June ($15.4 million), discontinuing this categorys course of steady growth, and sales are down 1.1 percent for the year. E-books sales were up 49.3 percent ($800,000), in this rapidly expanding category. E-books have grown 74.5 percent in 2004. Religious books declined 15.5 percent for the month (sales were $12.9 million in June) in what otherwise has been a banner year. That category holds a 26.9 percent year to date growth figure.
Sales for university press hardcover books witnessed a tremendous 99.9 percent jump ($16.4 million) in June. That category has broken free of earlier year to date deficits, and is now up 8.0 percent for the year. Sales in the university press paperback category made a gold medal worthy gain of 95.6 percent for June (sales totaled $42.7 million); this category is up 6.7 percent for the year. Sales in the professional and scholarly category declined by 1.6 percent in June, with sales of $46.7 million; sales in that category are up a slight 1.0 percent for the year. Sales of other types of books posted a tremendous 134.5 percent growth in June with sales of $4.8 million. This catchall category is up 31.5 percent for 2004.
Higher education publishing sales grew 23.5 percent for June ($184.3 million), and have posted 0.9 percent growth for the year. Finally, El-hi (elementary/high school) basal and supplemental K-12 net sales fell 20.5 percent in June, with sales of $612.6 million, allowing for a slight slip in the year to date number, which is now 3.6 percent.
The Association of American Publishers is the principal trade association for the U.S. book publishing industry with over 300 members, comprising most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and medium-sized houses, non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies.
