In UK, Rising Ebook Sales Almost Make Up For Decline in Old-Fashioned Paperbacks

Sales of ebook novels quadrupled last year, almost making up for the sharp decline in sales of old-fashioned physical books, new figures from the book industry show.

In a sign of how Britons reading habits are changing, the Publishers Association said that sales of electronic novels hit £70 million in 2011, up from just £16 million in 2010.

The sales increase of £54 million almost entirely made up for the £57 million decline in sales of traditional paperback novels.