However, in the first six months of this year, the book market recorded a decrease in sales by 3.3 percent as the general director of Börsenverein, Peter Kraus Clef. However, the industry is confident in the second half of the year.
According to Schmidt-Friderichs, sales drivers last year were fiction with an increase of 4.3 percent. The department, which includes novels and history, is a leading group of products with a share of almost 37 percent in the book market. Non -essential books (plus 8.1 percent) and school books (plus 3.8 percent) have also reached significant growth. On the other hand, fewer guides (minus 4.5 percent) and tourist books (minus 8.6 percent) were bought.
From 16 to 29 years old buy more books
It is especially pleasant that young people, in particular, bought more books, said the head. In the age group of 16 to 19 years, almost ten percent more young people were bought from 20 to 29 years by almost eight percent more. The number of buyers has decreased in other age groups. Nevertheless, it is scary that, according to the Pisa study, a quarter of a 15-year-old functional illiterate, that is, cannot understand the meaning of the text. According to a significant study, every fifth adult read at the level of a ten -year -old child or worse. “Politicians are watching,” complained Schmidt-Friederich. She urgently warned the strategy to promote reading.
According to The Head, most books will continue to be sold in bookstores with a share share of 41 percent. They recorded a stable sales result with an increase of 0.6 percent. The transaction of the Internet book with plus 4.4 percent has reached the most powerful sales growth. Thanks to the sale of 25 percent, online trade is the second strongest sales channel.
Contrary to the slightly growing development of sales in recent years, the production of the title has been falling since 2019.
Electronic books remain niche
Audiobooks continued the boom, explained Kraus from Cleff. Sales increased by 7.3 percent last year, especially from the load and streaming. Sales of the e -book increased slightly by 2.2 percent. The share of electronic books in the book market remains 6.1 percent.
The book industry lives in intellectual property, said managing director. Therefore, the regulation of generative artificial intelligence is important. For this, dominant technological companies should also be included. The EU and the federal government should not blackmail the United States and soften its regulation, demanded Kraus from Cleef. He asked the federal government to introduce structural publishing financing, which already existed in other European countries. It is necessary to preserve the price of books that provide a variety of sales channels and a cultural pass for 18-year-olds.
