The American Booksellers Association has released its 2025 sales survey results. Of the 382 members who responded, 73.3% said their sales last year were up from 2024, Bookselling This Week reported, noting that:
- 22% said sales were up 6%-10%
- 17% said sales were up 11%-20%
- 9.4% said sales were up 3%-5%
- 8.4% said sales were up 21%-30%
Among survey respondents, 66.3% noted that sales for the 2025 holiday season (typically Thanksgiving through the end of the year) were higher than in 2024. Stores who said holiday sales were down largely attributed the decline to customers spending less due to economic concerns, as well as the rising price of books and delays in shipping. 15.4% of respondents said they had not been open long enough to compare the two years accurately.
"As many of you know, these numbers don't tell the whole story," BTW wrote. "Last year was arguably the most challenging indie booksellers have faced as they dealt with rising costs, an uncertain economy, book bans, free speech harassment, holiday shipping supply chain issues, the labor shortage, tariffs, ICE raids in their communities, National Guard in their communities, and more."