There were fewer books sold in Germany in 2023 but revenues were higher, according to Branchen-Monitor BUCH, the research body owned by the Börsenverein, the countrys booksellers and publishers association.
Growth last year was mainly down to higher prices (which were up 4.9%), while the number of copies sold fell by 1.9%. The Börsenvereins chairwoman observed: We are living in challenging times and the book industry is also feeling the effects unsettled consumers who are still reluctant to spend.
Her prime concern was reduced footfall in the high street. Declining footfall in city centres also means that fewer people are making new discoveries in bookshops which is bad for cultural diversity, she said. The also repeated calls on the government for more support for small publishers.
But on a positive note, fiction revenues were sales up 7.7% and it was also the only category to increase the number of books sold which was up by 1.2%
