Quote:
Originally Posted by Fbone
Reports have also said people are reading (and buying) less than ever before. There are probably multiple reasons. Time constraints, income loss, disasters, movies, gaming, texting, disinterest and death of the older reading generation.
Movie studios, TV networks, video game makers, and computer vendors all have fluctuating sales. Publishing is no different. A lack of a few bestsellers in one year will depress sales.
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Movie box office is up this year over last; bad weather certainly didn't stop people from coming out to theaters.
Video games have been trending up this year.
Even PCs are trending up.
Publishing is trending down by a lot.
Bear in mind that tradpub is reporting $200M less sales (about 15m books worth) in 4 months (that works out to over a half billion over a full year) and all the BPHs are reporting big drops in ebook sales. And that drop is coming despite the fourth Fifty Shades title launching in the reporting cycle.
Why would it be surprising that a fifty percent price hike should result in sharply reduced sales? Every other product under the face of the sun would see sales tank. Especially in the face of deep discounts on the alternative print editions.
I see no reason to suspect anything but the price hike.