The number of independent bookshops in the U.K. declined by 1%, from 1,063 to 1,052, in 2024, according to the Booksellers Association, which reported that 45 new indies opened in 2024, down from 51 in 2023, the Bookseller wrote. The BA's Christmas Trading Survey of more than 150 indies showed that 56% of respondents had a sales increase year-on-year in 2024, up from 50% in 2023, while 31% saw a decrease, compared to 30% in 2023.
In a separate sales survey by the Bookseller, 38% of respondents said that Christmas foot traffic increased year-on-year in 2024, compared to 35% in 2023, with 30.5% seeing a decrease, compared to 35% in 2023. In addition, 43% saw per-customer spending increase year-on-year, down from 49% in 2023, with 23.5% showing a decrease, up from 22% in 2023.
The Bookseller's survey also revealed that the top five concerns indie booksellers have for 2025 are the impact of cost of living on consumer confidence (76.6%), the U.K. economy (66.9%), staff costs (60.7%), energy and utility bills (53.1%), and increasing recommended retail prices and wholesale prices (53%).
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Börsenverein chairwoman Karin Schmidt-Friderichs |
Sales in the German book market in 2024 increased 0.8% across central sales channels (retail bookstores, e-commerce incl. Amazon, railway station bookstores, department stores, electrical goods stores and drugstores), with local bookstores on their own closing with a slight increase in turnover of 0.9% and a drop in sales of 2.2% compared to 2023, according to an initial assessment published by the trade association Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers & Booksellers Association) in conjunction with Media Control.
A cautionary note was sounded, however, because the number of books sold decreased by 1.7% in the past 12 months. Retail prices rose by an average of 2.6%, ensuring the positive turnover result for the year.
In a statement, Börsenverein's chairwoman Karin Schmidt-Friderichs said, "As we see in the economy as a whole, the situation in the book market remains extremely tense. In these difficult times, the book industry has been able to maintain the previous year's level of turnover. This is a positive signal, as facts, knowledge and inspiring stories are essential tools for understanding and coping with a complex and crisis-ridden reality. Books are still a particularly popular medium among young people. For many publishing houses, bookstores and book logistics companies, 2024 was a challenging year: the industry continues to feel the effects of the general uncertainty of consumers and their reluctance to spend, while cost pressure and increasing bureaucracy continue unabated."
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The Australian book market was down by 3% in value and 1.2% in volume in 2024, according to Nielsen BookData's BookScan service. Books+Publishing reported that Nielsen's 2024 snapshot showed the Australian market for the period was worth A$1.29 billion (about US$794 million) in value, down from A$1.33 billion (about US$819 million) in 2023. Sales by volume for 2024 totaled 69 million, down from 69.8 million the prior year. Compared to 2021, book sales were up both by value and volume. --Robert Gray