In October, net book sales rose 10.2%, to $725.8 million, as reported by 89 publishers to the Association of American Publishers. For the year to date, net book sales are up 4.1%.
Publisher numbers for e-books were particularly noteworthy, with October sales of $18.5 million, compared to $5.2 million in 2008. Year-to-date sales in aggregate for the period of January-October 2009 reached $130.7 million, compared to $46.6 million for the same period last year, reflecting a 180.7% increase. According to AAP reports, trade market e-books currently account for 3% of total trade sales.
Other results by category:
- Adult paperback increased 37.5% to $130.4 million.
- El-Hi was up 29.6% to $190.6 million.
- Children's/YA paperback increased 20.2% to $52.7 million.
- Higher education jumped 6.9% to $23.4 million.
- Adult hardcover rose 6.3% to $259.9 million.
- Professional and scholarly were up 3.5% to $48 million.
- Religion declined 8.5% to $60.3 million.
- Adult mass market was down 1.8% to $61.2 million.
- Audiobooks dropped 1.8% to $19.7 million.
- University press hardcover fell 1.5% to $5.3 million.
- University press paperback decreased 1.4% to $3.6 million.
- Children's/YA hardcover fell 0.5% to $87.9 million.