Book publishers

The book publishing industry recorded total revenues of just over $2.4 billion in 2005, up only 1.6% from 2004. This was in sharp contrast to the 19% growth rate that occurred from 2000 to 2004.

Despite the lackluster performance nationally, total revenue gains were strong in the West with British Columbia (+19.9%), Saskatchewan (+9.1%) and Alberta (+8.7%) outpacing the national average.

In contrast, publishers in the Atlantic provinces lost ground as revenues declined by 5.2%. Ontario saw a small 2.2% decrease in revenue from 2004 while Quebec had an increase of 6.8%.

Despite stagnant revenue growth, profits for book publishers were up in 2005. Total profit for the industry grew from $227 million to $285 million in 2005. The industry's total profit margin increased from 10.1% to 11.9%.

Companies in Ontario and Quebec accounted for the majority of the book publishing industry's profit. They earned $270 million of the industry's $285 million profit. They also led the industry with profit margins of 11.0% and 13.1% respectively. British Columbia was next with a profit margin 7.8%.

Salaries, wages and benefits accounted for 20.9% of total industry expenses, up marginally from the previous year.

The top 10 publishers in the industry earned 52% of the total revenue and had a profit margin of 15.8%. The comparable figures for 2004 were 51% of revenues and a profit margin of 14.0%.

Available on CANSIM: table 361-0007.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3105.

Selected information from the 2005 Survey of Book Publishers is now available in table format in Book Publishers: Data Tables (87F0004XIE, free) from the Publications module of our website.

For more information about the survey, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Les Reid (613-951-2246; fax: 613-951-6696; les.reid@statcan.gc.ca), Service Industries Division.