1371.0 - Book Retailers, Australia, 2000-01  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/11/2002   
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MEDIA RELEASE

November 14, 2002
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
153/2002
Over $1,200 million in retail book sales for 2000-01

More than 1,200 employing businesses in Australia sold new books valued at $1,221 million (m) in 2000-01, according to figures collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Results from the first detailed survey of book retailers showed that those classified as bookshops were responsible for over three-quarters ($934m) of the value of new book sales. The remaining book sales were divided among department stores ($148m), newsagents ($129m), supermarkets ($6m) and other retailers ($4m).

Over 70 million new books were sold by book retailers to the public, with bookshops accounting for almost 60% (42 million books) of sales. A further 23% (16 million) of books were sold by department stores and 13% (9 million) by newsagents.

The importance of new book sales to the overall operations of businesses varied for the different types of book retailers. New book sales for bookshops represented 91% of their overall income, substantially more than newsagents (14% of total income) and department stores, supermarkets and other retailers (1% or less of total income for each).

Bookshops reported a total income of $1,025m with $934m being for new book sales, $67m from the sale of second-hand books, $6m from the Educational Textbook Subsidy Scheme, $6m from the sale of services and $12m from other sources like wholesale sales and income from royalties.

Bookshops reported expenses totalling $1,018m being partly made up of $643m for the purchase of goods like books for resale and $161m for wages/salaries and other labour costs.

Bookshops recorded an operating profit before tax of $23m, representing a profit margin of 2.2%.

Further details are available in Book Retailers, Australia, 2000-01 (cat. no. 1371.0).