Report shows book sales held steady in 2013 despite no new blockbusters, drop in e-books

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Even with slowing momentum for e-books and no new blockbusters such as “Fifty Shades of Grey,” publishing held its own last year.

The Association of American Publishers released a report Tuesday that showed sales in 2013 around 1 per cent less than the year before. Based on numbers submitted by more than 1,200 publishers, trade sales totalled $7.01 billion in 2013, compared with $7.08 billion in 2012. Sales remain well above the $6.7 billion of 2011 despite the dissolution of the Borders superstore chain and the struggles of Barnes & Noble Inc.

E-book sales actually declined slightly, from $1.543 billion to $1.535 billion, after years of explosive growth. The cause was a sharp drop for young adult books, which remain far more popular on paper compared with romance, mystery and other genres.

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