Book market: 2009 book market survey for UK and US bookworms

According to Nielsen BookScan figures, the total book sales in 2009 in the USA came in at 751,7 million of books (a drop of 3%). The biggest decline by category was in adult non-fiction, down 6% from the prior year. As the audio-books, maps and calendars were also included into the statistics, then it worth mentioning that among various book formats the demand for hardcover books dropped to 4% whereas the demand for paperbacks - to 2%.

During 2009 the customers in the UK spent £1.752 billion on 235,7 millions of books. Sales compared to the previous year displayed a decrease of 0,5%. The average book’s price dropped 0,7% and totaled to £7,43. Thus, the analysts prove the forecasts that price decrease can prevent a dramatic market drop.

However, despite a considerably insignificant decline in the British book market, it should be mentioned that the total receipts from sales in the central shops of London fell to 6.9% compared to the figures in 2008 and came to £968 million. Among the reasons for this situation is the bankruptcy of the large British network of cheap department stores Woolworths in the end of 2008. Nevertheless, experts mention the growing influence of supermarkets, which include books into their range of goods, and Internet-retailers.