Bookstore sales are declining in Russia

It has been reported that in Russia, the sales volume in bookstores decreased by 6 to 18 percent during the first eight months of 2025. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

The main reason for this situation is attributed to the rapid growth of online sales, which account for approximately 65 percent of the book market. At the same time, the overall turnover of the bookstore network increased by 1.1 percent.

This is explained by a significant increase in prices. Currently, the average price of books in stores is 546 rubles, which is 12.3 percent higher compared to last year.

Publishers link this price increase to the rise in costs for paper, printed products, and logistics. Additionally, the number of visitors to bookstores has decreased.

While the average foot traffic dropped by 6.6 percent, in some regions this figure fell by up to 20 percent. Over 200 stores closed across the country within a year, further intensifying difficulties in the market.

However, the digital book market continues to grow. E-books are becoming increasingly popular as a convenient and practical choice for many readers.

This trend is enabling the development of new forms of book sales.