Spain’s Book Market: 40 Percent More Online Buying During Lockdown

A new study of the book market in Spain shows consumers are reading more during the pandemic lockdown, buying more books online, and still prefer print over digital.

As Publishing Perspectives readers will recall, the Spanish book publishing industry is facing a steep uphill battle against the economic ravages of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Even without new pressures, the book market in Spain reports anticipated losses of some €1 billion (US$1.1 billion)—€800 million (US$906.2 million) in the internal book market and €200 million (US$225 million) in the external market.

Today (July 21), the Federation of Publishers’ Guilds of Spain (FGEE) is issuing its newly commissioned study on reading habits and patterns during pandemic and lockdown conditions, and it’s playing to two audiences:

First, it’s trying to convince the consumer base that reading is an essential component of healthy survival in a time of upheaval and danger. Second, it’s working with the Federation of Book Chambers to persuade the Pedro Sánchez government that the book business is worth helping with a basket of subsidies called “Pact for Books and Reading.”

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