At midyear trade e-book sales are more than 70% higher than those of the same period last year, according to Michael Smith, Executive Director of the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). Smith was citing stats gathered by the Association of American Publishers.

Year to Date Revenue is also up, a whopping 47.5%.

Smith made it clear that:

* This data represents United States revenues only
* This data represents only trade e-book sales via wholesale channels. Retail numbers may be as much as double the above figures due to industry wholesale discounts.
* This data represents only data submitted from approx. 12 to 15 trade publishers
* This data does not include library, educational or professional electronic sales
* The numbers reflect the wholesale revenues of publishers
* The definition used for reporting electronic book sales is “All books delivered electronically over the Internet OR to hand-held reading devices”
* The IDPF and AAP began collecting data together starting in Q1 2006

As so many other economic indicators plunge, it’s comforting indeed to learn that this brave new industry is thriving.

– RC