Category % Change March % Change YTD
Although the adult hardcover segment showed signs of life in March, five other categories tracked by the AAP posted sales declines compared to March 2000. Sales in adult hardcover were up 13.2% in March after four months of declines; trade paperback sales were down 13.1%. Book clubs had the best performance in the month with sales ahead 49.9%, and the segment’s 19.3% gain in the quarter was the highest in the industry. Despite the gain in March, sales in the adult hardcover segment were down 27.9% for the first three months of the year, the largest decline among all segments. The AAP added a new category to its monthly estimates in March, audio books. Sales in March were up 0.6% in the segment, but were down 17.1% in the year to date.
Adult Hardcover 13.2 -27.9
Adult Paperback -13.1 -5.0
Juvenile Hardcover 7.3 1.4
Juvenile Paperback 5.2 6.8
Audio Books 0.6 -17.1
Univ. Pr. Hardcover 7.1 3.9
Univ. Pr. Paperback -17.1 -2.8
Mass Market Paperback -11.6 15.2
Book Club 49.9 19.3
Mail Order -7.4 -18.7
Professional -13.4 -15.2
College Texts n/m -6.2
School Texts 12.3 5.8
(Measured in $ sales against same time periods, 2000)