“Since 2013, print unit sales are up 10.8%. We will see if publishers can keep that streak going in 2018.”
Catching up with PW's Andrew Albanese
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As a new year opens, trade book publishers are toasting strong sales figures for print titles in recent weeks and throughout the year just ended.
“The holiday shopping season got off to a slow start over Thanksgiving, but ended on a strong note,” reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.
According to the outlets that report to NPD BookScan, Albanese explains, sales for print units in the week ended Dec. 24 were up 7% over the comparable week in 2016. Unit sales of print books also rose 1.9% in 2017, over 2016. Total units sold hit 687.2 million, up from 674.1 million in 2016.
“That increase follows a 3.3% increase in 2016 over 2015 with units having risen every year since 2013,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “Since 2013, print unit sales are up 10.8% — that’s quite a streak and we will see if publishers can keep it going in 2018.”
Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.
