The Bookseller - News - US publishing 'firing on all cylinders' as revenue rises 12.3% and in-person buying booms 

The total percentage of overall book trade revenue in 2021 attributable to physical retail for 2021 was 19.5%. As a result of Covid-19 closures easing during 2021 the channel climbed 23.9% industry wide on a year-on-year basis, totalling $6.2bn (£5.4bn). Online purchases were also strong, accounting for 32.7% of industry-wide revenue, or $9.6bn (£8.4bn).

In the trade sector, online retail remained dominant, accounting for 44.7% of revenues, or $8.4bn (£7.4bn). Year on year, however, online was roughly flat, falling 0.5% both on an industry-wide basis, and in the trade category.

Physical books continued to dominate the market during 2021, with hardback, paperback and special bindings each seeing double-digit increases in revenue. Paperback revenues increased 14.2% during the year, reaching $6.2bn (£5.4bn), and hardback revenue increased 13.6%, reaching $7bn (£6.1bn). Special bindings increased 11.6% reaching $42m (£36.8m).