E-book sales rose by 54% in 2011

London, May 2 (ANI): The sales of digital books rose by 54 percent in 2011, a publishing survey firm has revealed.

Figures released by the Publishers' Association (PA) show that the market for e-books, downloads and online subscriptions had increased to four times since 2007. In 2007, estimated earnings were pegged at 74 million pounds, and in 2012, this figure has rose to 243 million pounds.

Digital content now accounts for eight percent of the total value of book sales in 2011.

However, total book sales in the market worth 3.2 billion pounds fell by two percent while physical book sales dropped to five percent three billion pounds, according to the PA Statistical Yearbook.

"The story of the year is a decline in physical sales almost being compensated for by a strong performance in digital. That said, physical books remain the format of choice for the vast majority of British readers, underlining the continued importance of the high street sector," the BBC quoted PA Chief Executive Richard Mollett, as saying.

The report also noted that the number of high street book stores had almost halved in the last six years, with approximately 2,000 shops closing since 2006. (ANI)