U.S. trade book sales, which include graphic novels, movie tie-ins, and other books sold by pop culture retailers, climbed nearly 25% in 2005 to $7.8 billion, according to numbers released by the Association of American Publishers this week.  The largest increase was in the juvenile hardbound category, which grew nearly 60% behind sales of the latest Harry Potter hardcover to $3.6 billion.  Adult hardbound books were up only 1.4%, to $2.2 billion; adult paperbound books were up a more robust 9.5%, to 1.1 billion; and juvenile paperbound books were up 10.6% to $850 million. 

The report also looked at compound growth rates since 2002.  Trade books were up 9.1% over that period, probably less than inflation. And Harry Potter was the biggest part of that, with the top growth rate outside of juvenile hardbound books only 3.8% (adult paperbound). 

Book clubs and mail order (not part of trade books) were down 6.7% for the year and 8.2% since 2002.  Mass market paperbacks were flat for the year, and down 3.5% since 2002.  Religious books were a bright spot, up 14.2% since 2002 (although down 6.1% in 2005), to $876 million. 

These over-all industry numbers confirm the well-known fact that graphic novels, and manga in particular, are one of the few bright spots in an otherwise flat to declining book industry.