Finance

An Authors Guild survey of more than 5,000 authors found they had a median income $6,080 in 2017. Excluding income from book-related activities such as speaking engagements, earnings from just books was $3,100.

Last year was a bad one for stocks...and it was particularly tough for the 11 companies that make up the Publishers Weekly Stock Index.

Unit sales of print books rose 1.3% in 2018 over 2017 at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. According to BookScan, units topped 695 million in the 52-week period ended December 29.

Revenue in Scholastic's trade division increased 16% in the second quarter ended November 30, 2018, over the comparable period a year ago. For the entire company, revenue in the quarter rose 1% over last fiscal year’s second quarter and net income jumped 25.4%.

After the theft of $3.4 million by its former bookkeeper, the agency has shuttered and started liquidation proceedings. In a letter, agency principal Neil Olson apologized to his clients and said he had "simply run out of time and resources.”

Sales of adult books were flat in October compared to October 2017, according to figures released by the AAP as part of its StatShot program. Sales in the children/young adult segment fell 6.8% in the month compared to 2017.

Revenue at John Wiley & Sons fell 1% in the second quarter ended October 31, compared to the same period a year ago.

Despite declines in total sales and operating income, net income rose due to lower taxes, and B&NE CEO Michael Huseby said the company remains focused "on investing in digital growth platforms and offerings for the future."

Barnes & Noble cut its operating loss in the second quarter ended October 27, 2018, to $26.8 million, down from $52.2 million a year ago.

Revenue at Regnery Publishing rose in the third quarter of 2018, which ended September 30, parent company Salem Media reported. The gain at Regnery, however, was offset by a 10.4% decline in sales in Salem's self-publishing division.