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Publishing sales fall in Canada

10.07.08

The latest numbers from Statistics Canada, the national statistics agency, show operating revenues for the country's book publishing industry dropped 1.2% to $2.1bn in 2006. That came after a 3.2% increase in 2005.

Growth in operating revenue was flat across most of the country in 2006 except for British Columbia, where revenues fell 17%, and Alberta, where revenues rose 12%.

The decline in operating revenues accompanied a 0.9% increase in operating expenses. As a result, the operating profit margin for the industry dropped to 10.3% in 2006 from 12.1% the year before.

Exports of books and other foreign book sales contributed an additional 12% in 2006.

In contrast to steady declines in household spending on newspapers, magazines and periodicals, average household spending on books rose from $86 in 1998 to $111 in 2005. In 2006, it had eased to $108.

 

Stats Canada

International publishers Canada

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