Religious book sales declined 21.5 % in April for a total of $34.2 million. The decrease in the category, which was down 14.1% for the year to date, was revealed in the latest figures just released by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), which saw a month overall decrease of 3.5%. Sales have remained flat for the year.

The adult hardcover category was down by 4.6% in April with sales of $110 million, and the category's year-to-date sales were also down by 14.5%. Adult paperback sales rose 4.5% for the month ($118.3 million), with sales up 18.2% for the year. Revenues in the adult mass market category increased by 4.7% for April with sales of $53.2 million, contributing toward a 1.7% increase so far this year.

Children's/young adult (YA) hardcover sales saw a decrease of 19.9% for the month with a total of $39 million, and sales year-to-date dropped by 12%. The AAP also revealed that children's/YA paperback sales decreased by 3.1% in April with sales totaling $39.3 million; although sales were up 4.8% for the year.

Audiobook sales increased 1.7% for the month with sales totaling $12.6 million, though sales for the whole year were down by 13%.

E-book sales posted an increase of 19.9% for April compared to last year's figures with sales totaling $3.4 million, and sales for the whole year were up by 36.1%.

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