ut that lower prices for digital books means the overall value of UK book sales is shrinking.
That revelation is just one finding from the latest Books & Consumers survey, an ongoing study of the habits of British book buyers by category experts at BML, a Bowker business.
According to the survey, the 48 weeks ending 27th November 2011 UK saw purchases of physical books decline by 4% while value was down 6% compared to the same period in 2010.
Image: Bowker Market Research
When eBook purchases are included, the total consumer book market grew 0/4% in but fell 3% in value.
“Through Books & Consumers we are tracking a remarkable period of change in the book industry,” said Jo Henry, Managing Director of BML Bowker.
“And publishers are using these data to make better informed decisions and plan their futures more effectively.”
The survey also shows the adult fiction market grew from 2.8% of purchases in the four weeks ending 26th December 2010 to 12.5% in the four weeks to 27th November 2011.
But lower prices for eBook editions meant accounted for only 7.1% of adult fiction spending in the latest period.
Image: Bowker Market Research
Full 2011 results from the Books & Consumers survey will be released at BML Bowker’s annual conference on 29th March in Central London.