Is the book industry dying?

However, contrary to popular belief, the industry is not at risk of dying – far from it. In fact, the industry has seen growth in the last few years, with book sales increasing in value by 1.4\% in 2018 (according to Nielsen BookScan) – small growth, but growth nonetheless.

Are printed books declining?

Print sales by units are up almost 8 percent so far this year, according to NPD BookScan. E-books and audiobooks, which make up a smaller portion of the market, are up as well. When the United States slammed shut in March, book sales dropped sharply, but the dip didn’t last.

Are books still popular?

A recent study by the Pew Research Center showed that print books have continued to be more popular than ebooks and audiobooks. The study also showed that book readership has been relatively steady since 2016. In 2019, 72\% of U.S. adults said that they’ve read a book within the past one year.

Are books becoming less popular?

Total book reading is declining significantly, although not at the rate of literary reading. The percentage of the U.S. adult population reading any books has declined by -7 percent over the past decade. dropped dramatically over the past 20 years. Less than half of the adult American population now reads literature.

Are book sales down in May 2019?

Retail sales at U.S. bookstores were down by 0.7 percent in May 2019 compared to May 2018, according to preliminary figures from the Bureau of the Census. As of July 10, the year-to-date sales among ABA member stores, as reported to the weekly Indie Bestseller Lists, are down 0.5 percent over 2018.

How many books were sold in the US in 2019?

Hard copy book sales for the month of August (2019) made up about 80\% of all total book sales. This includes paperback, hardback, and children’s books. For the first half of 2019, individual unit book sales were down from 2018, when a total of about 675 million print books were sold in the US.

What are the biggest book industry trends for the last 7 years?

Audiobooks are the biggest book industry trend for the last 7 years. According to a report published in June of 2019 by the Audio Publishers Association, audiobook sales increased by nearly 25\% between 2017 and 2018 and total sales approached nearly $1 billion! Most audiobooks are sold digitally.

What are the biggest challenges facing the book industry?

The U.S. book industry has faced challenges ranging from the increased popularity of digital media to the hardships faced by retail bookstores, but books remain an important part of consumers’ daily lives. Print book sales figures have improved and unit sales now consistently surpass 650 million per year.