NPD Group, which tracks POS data from major retailers, revealed year-end numbers for U.S. toy sales in 2016, with strong performances for games and collectibles.

This week, Thorne looks at another factor affecting consumers' decision-making.

The hobby games business marked an astounding eighth consecutive year of growth in 2016, with the hobby channel growing around 10%, according to retailers, distributors, and publishers interviewed by ICv2 as sources for a report in the latest issue of ICv2's Internal Correspondence , #91.

This chart of the Top 10 Graphic Novel Franchises reflects sales in all channels for Fall (September-December) 2016.

This chart of the ICv2 "Top 10 Manga Franchises" reflects sales in all channels for Fall 2016.

This week’s home entertainment offerings include one of 2016’s most popular animated features, a big-budget video game movie starring Michael Fassbender, the third season of Batman: The Bold and the Brave on Blu-ray, the first collection of the Adult Swim black comedy Newsreaders , and a delightful anime parody of Attack on Titan .

TCGplayer has begun offering an e-commerce service, integrated with sales on its platform, for retail stores, the company announced at a Wednesday night presentation at GAMA Trade Show.

These are estimates of the sales on graphic novels by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during March 2017.

USAopoly will release the Super Mario Level Up! Board Game , a $19.95 game for 3-6 players.

Asmodee, the parent company of Asmodee North America, had record sales and profits in 2016, with healthy organic growth as well as growth due to acquisition.