For the first half of the year, total net book sales fell 4.1%, to $5.58 billion, representing sales of 1,207 publishers and distributed clients as reported to the Association of American Publishers. In June, total net book sales fell 1.4%, to $1.54 billion.
For the year to date, downloaded audio was the fastest-growing format, up 31%. Paperbacks rose 12.5% while hardcovers fell 11% and e-books dropped 10.3% (adult e-books slipped 3.1% and children's/YA e-book fell 45.5%). Trade sales as a whole were down 1.4%, to $3.09 billion, but improved in June, when sales rose 5.5%.
