Total net book sales in July in the U.S. fell 4.2%, to $1.27 billion, compared to July 2024, representing sales of 1,320 publishers and distributed clients as reported to the Association of American Publishers. For the year to date, net book sales were down 2.1%, to $7.58 billion.
In July, trade book sales fell 11.9%, to $680.9 million. Adult sales dropped 13.6%, with adult fiction down 10.3% and adult nonfiction down 18.4%. Children's/YA sales slipped 10.4%, with children's/YA fiction down 12.4%, and children's/YA nonfiction off just 0.1%.
In terms of format, trade hardcover sales dropped 9.6%, to $203.9 million, paperbacks fell 14.8%, to $245.7 million, mass market dropped 8.5%, to $10.2 million, and special bindings inched up 0.6%, to $19.7 million.
Sales by category for July 2025:
