Sale top £3bn to reach highest level since 2012

Sales of books reached £3 billion last year – the highest level since 2012 – according Publishers Association figures.

The trade body said total book sales including physical books rose 7%, while sales of e-books fell 3% to £538 million.

Figures show nonfiction sales were up 9% to £884m – boosted by books including the highprofile Lean In 15 series by Joe Wicks – while children’s books sales increased 16% to £365m.

Chief executive of the association Stephen Lotinga said: “All of us have at some point in our lives enjoyed the work of a great author, used a high-quality textbook, or benefited from the sharing of academic literature and that is only possible due to the continued success of the publishing industry.”