Sell-in of comics to comic stores was up 12% in September over the year-ago period, bringing sales in Q3 up a healthy 7% over Q3 in 2008.  Graphic novels continued to be weaker behind less Watchmen frenzy, with a 2% decline in September and a 10% decline for the quarter (based on the top 100 titles).  Totaling the two gives an over-all 4% increase for Q3 vs. the year ago period. 

A quick look at the charts provides no single explanation.  Price increases are certainly a factor, but there are also some bright spots in the piece sales charts.  Looking at the relative sales of titles at the same position in September 2009 vs. September 2008, the relative sales of the top ten titles are mixed.  But sales on the #25 and #50 titles were higher in September of 2008.  From #75 to the bottom of the chart, piece sales were actually higher in 2009 than 2008, a very positive development.

Year to date sales have not yet turned positive, with comic sales down around 1% vs. the year ago period for January through September, and sales of the top 100 graphic novels  down around 10%, for a 2% over-all decline.  Still, the recent trends are positive, with many businesses that would kill for the near-flat comp sales enjoyed by comics this year.