About the market:

Mintel estimates the total value of the book market in 2004 (including all institutional sales) to be worth £3, 620 million, with further growth expected during 2005. While discounting remains commonplace (on selected bestsellers or across the range) and has contributed to faster volume than value growth overall, there is no evidence of the practice either intensifying, in terms of discounts becoming deeper, or becoming more widespread.

For the trade as a whole the big news in 2004 was the success of the Richard and Judy bookclub, and the BBC carried on from its Big Read with the very different Page Turners programme. Longer term initiatives from bodies such as The Reading Agency and joint projects with publishers and retailers are certainly prompting interest among consumers and World Book Day continues to boost sales. Initiatives have already been addressed to both children and adults, and a new scheme has already been announced for 2006 to target adults with a below average literacy skills.

About Mintel’s research

This report seeks to assess what chances the initiatives from the trade and outside bodies like the Reading Agency have of encouraging book sales, and encouraging more consumers to become book buyers.

Providing the most innovative consumer research and latest market analysis, Mintel's new report offers you all the insight and inspiration you need for conducting clever, creative and profitable business in the UK books market.

Intriguing findings:

53% of consumers classed in AB socio economic group agree reading helps them to relax, then declining down to 40% of C1s and 42% of DEs, and rising again among the Es (who are older) to 47%.