The book industry is in good health in Quebec.
Sales remain higher than pre-pandemic levels for a third year in a row, according to the Observatoire de la culture et des communications of the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
In his bulletin Book sales in 2021, 2022 and 2023, Released Thursday, it reports that bookstore sales have been relatively flat for three years, but their 2023 value is the highest in a decade, at $457.9 million, up 0.3% from 2022.
Distributor sales also reached their highest level in a decade, at $29 million, despite a slim annual increase of 1.4% compared to strong increases in 2021 (54%) and 2022 (28%).
On the publisher side, sales increased for a third consecutive year, to $118.4 million, a high since 2018 and a 3.2% increase over the previous year.
Overall, book sales in the province totaled $677.3 million in 2023, almost as much as in 2022 ($678.4 million).
In contrast, fewer books were sold in big box stores. Sales were at their lowest level since 2019.
Specifically, those in discount superstores fell by 9.7% and those in other points of sale, such as department stores, boutiques and newsstands, decreased by 6.7%.
In addition, the number of copies sold for digital books fell by 6.2%. This is the third year in a row that a decline has been observed.