Christian Publishers Report Increased Sales for First Quarter

Christian publishers have reported increased sales for the month of March over the same month last year, according to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). These publishers also are showing an increase in net sales (sales-returns) for the first three months of this year. The month of March saw a gross-sales increase of just more than one percent, and a net sales increase of eight percent for March and two percent for the quarter. This is the first time the ECPA has seen a positive change in net sales in more than a year.

"This news is a welcome sign that we may be seeing the end of a very difficult economic climate that has had a major impact on Christian publishing," says Mark Kuyper, ECPA president. "While publishers will need to continue to work toward changes necessary in a new media world, an upward trend in traditional book sales shows the continuing demand from consumers for Christian content."

Fifteen ECPA member publishers reported sales in the month of January. The reporting program, open exclusively to ECPA members, is a free service for participating publishers. Each month's aggregate sales and returns totals are forwarded for inclusion in the monthly Association of American Publishers (AAP) report and tracked under the "Religious Books" category.

"By collecting and then forwarding our members' data in partnership with the AAP, we are able to get a more accurate read on the sales trends of publishers engaged in selling Christian books exclusively," says Michael Covington, ECPA's information and education director.