"Flat is the new up" according to the Book Industry Study Group's comprehensive annual research publication

New York, NY (May 29, 2009) -- Total U.S. book publishers' net revenues reached $40.32 billion in 2008, up 1.0% over 2007, while 2008 unit sales reached nearly 3.1 billion, down 1.5% over 2007, according to Book Industry TRENDS 2009, the Book Industry Study Group's comprehensive annual research study. The full publication will be available for purchase from the BISG website in July.

To reveal sales figures that reflect today's realities, the 2009 edition of Book Industry TRENDS features, for the first time, data on export and Internet sales, sales to organizations and associations, sales of books in electronic formats, and an enhanced breakdown of sales to libraries into lines detailing sales to public libraries, educational institutions and academic libraries. In addition, Book Industry TRENDS 2009 includes data on backlist vs. frontlist sales for the first time.

According to the commentary accompanying the publication's data, most trade publishers indicate that three issues dominate their minds in mid-2009. In order of mindshare, these issues are:

• The challenging U.S. and global economies;
  
• The continuing march toward digital publishing models;
  
• The urge to use both of the above to make significant changes to the industry's business models and processes.
  

For example, although trade publishing is not a sector typically known for swift, sweeping change, Book Industry TRENDS 2009 reports that many insiders think the severity of the current recession combined with the advances in digital publishing will make significant changes in business models and processes happen faster than the industry has ever seen before.

Tracking Trends for Over 30 Years

For more than thirty years, the book industry has looked to the Book Industry Study Group and Book Industry TRENDS to provide comprehensive and accurate statistics on the size and growth of the U.S. book business. Using numerous charts and graphs, the 2009 edition of Book Industry TRENDS features trend lines for dollar and unit sales through the various sales channels and in the major sectors of the book business, including adult and juvenile trade, professional, religious, scholarly, elhi and college for the years 2007-2010.

Book Industry TRENDS 2009 was prepared by Outsell, Inc., a well-known market research firm specializing in the publishing and information industries, selected by the Book Industry Study Group because of its proven combination of publishing industry knowledge and analytical rigor.

TRENDS numbers are widely quoted in prestigious publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Business Week, Publishers Weekly and many other periodicals that serve book industry professionals.

For more information, or to order a copy of Book Industry TRENDS 2009, visit the BISG website.

Media Contact:
Michael Healy
Executive Director
Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
646-336-7141
michael@bisg.org
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About Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
The Book Industry Study Group, Inc. (BISG) is the U.S. book industry's leading trade association for policy, standards and research. The mission of BISG is to create a more informed, empowered, and efficient book industry supply chain. Membership consists of publishers, manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, librarians, and others engaged in the business of print and electronic media. For 30 years, BISG has provided a forum for all industry professionals to come together and efficiently address issues and concerns to advance the book community.

Learn more about BISG at www.bisg.org.

About Outsell, Inc.
Outsell, Inc. is a research and advisory firm focused on the publishing, information and education industries. The firm is based in Burlingame, CA and London. Learn more about Outsell at www.outsellinc.com.

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