A quick read on the market
Books now move through several formats at once. The annual figures show the full 2025 market, while the current-year figures show reported U.S. publisher revenue through July 2026. Print remains the largest share of consumer-book revenue, while the pace of change differs by format.
These figures are useful context for writers, publishers, journalists, students, and readers who want a clear starting point. For a closer look at the ideas behind influence and attention, explore Patrick Okeke's reading collection on trust and persuasion.
Publishing
The U.S. book market in 2025
Financial figures are reported in U.S. dollars and describe the calendar year 2025.
$33.4 billion
U.S. publishing revenue
Estimated revenue from books and course materials across print and digital formats in 2025, up 2.5% from 2024.
Source: Association of American Publishers, 2025 StatShot Annual$21.7 billion
Consumer-book revenue
Trade publishing, the consumer-book market, grew 2.7% in 2025.
Source: Association of American Publishers, 2025 StatShot Annual$2.5 billion
Digital-audio revenue
Digital Audio revenue grew 5.3% in 2025, the fastest growth rate among the two reported digital formats.
Source: Association of American Publishers, 2025 StatShot Annual$2.2 billion
eBook revenue
eBook revenue increased 3.2% in 2025.
Source: Association of American Publishers, 2025 StatShot Annual$6.0 billion
Adult nonfiction revenue
Adult nonfiction revenue rose 1.3% in U.S. trade publishing during 2025.
Source: Association of American Publishers, 2025 StatShot AnnualCurrent reporting
What the first seven months of 2026 show
These are reported revenue figures through July 2026, compared with the same period in 2025. They are a current signal, not a full-year forecast.
$6.7 billion
Reported revenue across publishing categories
Through July 2026, reported revenue across trade, education, and professional and scholarly publishing was up 5.4% from the same period in 2025.
Source: Association of American Publishers, July 2026 StatShot$5.4 billion
Consumer-book revenue
Trade, or consumer-book, revenue was up 5.5% through the first seven months of 2026.
Source: Association of American Publishers, July 2026 StatShot$2.0 billion
Paperback revenue
Paperback revenue rose 10.8% through July 2026, the strongest reported increase among the main trade formats listed in the release.
Source: Association of American Publishers, July 2026 StatShot$700.9 million
Digital-audio revenue
Digital Audio revenue was up 12.6% through July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Source: Association of American Publishers, July 2026 StatShot$601.4 million
eBook revenue
eBook revenue was down 3.1% through July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Source: Association of American Publishers, July 2026 StatShotSources and use
How to cite this page
This reference uses the Association of American Publishers’ 2025 annual report and its July 2026 monthly report. Each statistic links to the underlying publication and reporting period. Figures are not estimates by Baeze Publishing.
Baeze Publishing. “U.S. Book Publishing Statistics.” Updated September 28, 2026. https://baezepi.com/reading-and-publishing-statistics
For more independent nonfiction on culture, technology, influence, and making useful work, browse Patrick Okeke's books.