Industry Statistics

December retail sales at bookstores dropped by 15.6 percent compared to December 2010, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

The results of the third annual “Survey of Book Buying Behavior With Verso Digital,” presented at last month’s Winter Institute, provided insights on e-reader and tablet ownership, the split between e-book/print book purchasing, and the effect of the Borders closing on book buying.

Data from two studies presented by Len Vlahos, executive director of the Book Industry Study Group, at this year’s Winter Institute, provided booksellers with an overview of an industry clearly in flux.

Last week’s Winter Institute session “E-Books: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going” presented data on e-book sales growth and trends among IndieCommerce websites and a look at some of the creative ways indie booksellers are drawing customer attention to promote sales.

The latest study from Verso Digital, which will be the subject of a presentation at next week’s Winter Institute, found that “approximately 60 percent of former Borders customers have yet to appreciably increase their shopping at other bookselling locations.”

Following two months of significant increases, October retail sales at bookstores dropped by 6.6 percent compared to October 2010, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

Independent bookstores are showing continued resilience this holiday season, with reported online and in-store sales well over last year’s results, according to ABA.

Book sales were up for the second straight month in September, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.

Children’s Choice Book Awards voting opens March 14; Esi Edugyan wins Giller Prize;  Inc. on leveraging the senses to spur holiday sales; BISG study finds deepening commitment to digital formats; Google eBooks launches in Australia; B&N unveils Nook Tablet

August retail sales at bookstores increased by 11.8 percent compared to August 2010, according to preliminary figures recently released by the Bureau of the Census.