Hardback slump drives fall in UK sales in 2008
31.03.09 Graeme Neill reporting in The Bookseller

A slump in demand for hardback fiction was a main driver in a 6% fall in sales value, according to research from Book Marketing Limited. Hardback fiction sales fell by 20% in both volume and value terms last year compared to 2007.

After stripping out the performance of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, sales still fell by around 12%.

According to figures from BML's latest 'Books and Consumers' survey, which was presented to publishers and retailers today (31st March), sales in 2008 were worth £2.31bn last year, down from £2.47bn in 2007. A fall of 3% for the average price paid for books helped contribute to the drop in value.

However, volume sales were down 4% if Harry Potter is included and 1% if he is excluded. Paperback fiction sales fell 3% in volume and value terms last year with non-fiction paperbacks dropping by 5% by both measures. Among the successful genres were crime, thrillers, literary fiction and horror, which all showed volume growth.

Hardback non-fiction fared better, with volume sales increasing by 10%, but value sales still declined by 1%. Children's fiction had a more successful year than their grown-up counterparts. While purchases fell compared to 2007, both volume and value sales increased by 5% if Harry Potter is excluded. Non-fiction saw a slight decrease in sales year on year.

Across a five-year measure, hardback non-fiction was the best performing adult category. Volume sales grew by 25% between 2004 and 2008 and by 8% in value terms.

Paperback fiction grew by 12% volume and 7% value.

However, hardback fiction also slumped across the half decade; 8% by volume and 10% lower in value terms. Thrillers, fantasies and sagas were the key genres over the same period.
Children's also reported strong growth across the five-year period, with or without the influence of Bloomsbury's boy wizard. Volume and value grew by 18%, whether or not Harry Potter was included.