1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2006  
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Contents >> Chapter 12 - Culture and recreation >> Literature and print media

LITERATURE AND PRINT MEDIA

BOOK PUBLISHING AND RETAILING

During 2003-04 there were 244 businesses which were either predominantly engaged in book publishing, or generated income of $2m or more from this activity. Table 12.11 shows that these organisations generated $1,560.6m in income, of which $1,353.2m was from the sale of books. Of the total book sales, $811.9m (60.0%) was attributed to Australian titles. Between 2002-03 and 2003-04 the operating profit before tax for book publishing businesses increased from $88.4m to $152.1m and the profit margin increased from 5.6% to 9.7%.

12.11 BOOK PUBLISHERS
Units
2002-03
2003-04
Organisations at end June
no.
246
244
Income
Sales of all books
$m
1,369.4
1,353.2
Sales of Australian titles
$m
877.0
811.9
Sales of imported titles
$m
492.4
541.3
Sales of other goods
$m
73.9
68.6
Other income
$m
135.3
138.9
Total
$m
1,578.6
1,560.6
Average income per business
$m
6.4
6.4
Expenses
Wages and salaries paid
$m
248.6
266.1
Royalties and fees paid
$m
102.3
90.6
Other expenses
$m
1,136.8
1,047.8
Total
$m
1,487.7
1,404.4
Average expenses per business
$m
6.0
5.8
Ratio of royalties and fees paid to sales of Australian titles
%
11.7
11.2
Export sales of books
$m
209.5
190.5
Internet sales of books
$m
**14.1
7.3
Operating profit before tax
$m
88.4
152.1
Profit margin
%
5.6
9.7
Industry value added
$m
444.3
511.8
Source: Book Publishers, Australia, 2003-04 (1363.0).


Table 12.12 shows that, apart from a slight dip in 2000-01, the total sales of books has generally risen steadily from $841.7m in 1994 to $1,369.4m in 2002-03. For 2003-04, however, there was another slight decline in sales - down 1.2% to $1,353.2m. The general increase in the value of books sold has not been reflected in the number of books sold. This has fluctuated over the period, peaking at 130.6 million in 1995-96 and falling to its lowest level of 104.3 million in 2000-01. The 128.8 million sold in 2003-04 was 12.6% higher than the number sold in the previous year.
12.12 BOOK PUBLISHERS, Selected years
Units
1994(a)
1995-96
1997-98
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
Number of books sold
million
124.8
130.6
111.5
129.4
104.3
129.8
114.4
128.8
Sales of all books
$m
841.7
950.0
1,035.6
1,270.4
1,260.6
1,356.8
1,369.4
1,353.2
Sales of Australian titles
$m
487.7
561.1
623.5
756.1
747.7
853.8
877.0
811.9
Sales of imported titles
$m
354.0
388.9
412.1
514.3
512.9
503.0
492.4
541.3
Export sales of books(b)
$m
81.1
80.3
109.8
151.1
162.5
189.2
209.5
190.5
(a) Data were collected on a calendar year basis in 1994.
(b) Includes re-export sales and excludes sales of rights.

Source: Book Publishers, Australia, 2003-04 (1363.0).


Book sales valued at $1,406.5m were reported by the 1,572 employing businesses identified as having retail bookselling activity in 2003-04 (table 12.13). Most of the income from book sales was generated by the 561 businesses classified as bookshops (78% or $1,103.3m). In total, book retailers sold 79.9 million new books during 2003-04.

The total number of businesses reporting book sales increased by 11% (161) in 2003-04. Booksellers other than bookshops were largely responsible for this increase, with 121 more businesses reporting book sales. However, despite this increase in the number of booksellers other than bookshops, their income from selling new books fell by 4% to $303.2m. In contrast, the income of bookshops from selling new books ($1,103.3m) was 17% higher in 2003-04 than the $941.7m recorded for 2002-03.
12.13 BOOK RETAILERS
Bookshops(a)
Other booksellers(b)
Total businesses
Units
2002-03
2003-04
2002-03
2003-04
2002-03
2003-04
Number of businesses
no.
522
561
889
1,010
1,411
1,572
Number of new books sold
million
42.8
53.2
31.9
26.7
74.7
79.9
Income
Retail sales of new books(c)
$m
941.7
1,103.3
316.7
303.2
1,258.4
1,406.5
Other retail sales
$m
92.1
131.2
51,314.5
55,341.4
51,406.6
55,472.6
Other income
$m
26.0
62.5
5,440.1
4,192.8
5,466.0
4,255.3
Total
$m
1,059.7
1,297.0
57,071.3
59,837.5
58,131.0
61,134.4
Average income per business
$m
2.0
2.3
64.2
59.2
41.2
38.9
Average sales of new books per business
$m
1.8
2.0
0.4
0.3
0.9
0.9
Expenses
Purchases of new books
$m
587.3
678.4
259.0
262.1
846.3
940.6
Other expenses
$m
457.9
609.2
54,911.2
57,485.9
55,369.1
58,095.1
Total
$m
1,045.2
1,287.6
55,170.2
57,748.0
56,215.4
59,035.6
Average expenses per business
$m
2.0
2.3
62.0
57.2
39.8
37.6
Average purchases of new books per business
$m
1.1
1.2
0.3
0.3
0.6
0.6
(a) Includes only those businesses which are classified according to the ANZSIC as Newspaper, book and stationery retailing and for which the value of new book sales comprises at least 50% of all income.
(b) Includes only those businesses which are classified according to the ANZSIC as Supermarket and grocery stores; Department stores; Retailing n.e.c.; or Newspaper, book and stationery retailing and for which the value of new book sales comprises less than 50% of all income.
(c) Includes electronic and audio books.

Source: Book Retailers, Australia, 2003-04 (1371.0).


CHILDREN'S READING

In April 2003 the ABS conducted a survey of children's participation in cultural and leisure activities, which included reading for pleasure as one of six selected leisure activities. The survey found 75% of children aged 5-14 years had spent an average time of eight hours reading for pleasure outside of school hours during the two school weeks prior to interview, making it the second-most popular leisure activity for children after watching television or videos. More information about this survey can be found in Children's participation in selected leisure activities.



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