Domestic Manga Sales Slowing?

ICv2 reports that domestic translated manga sales rose 5% from $200 million in 2006 to $210 million in 2007 – the smallest year-to-year growth for manga since ICv2 began keeping record of annual manga sales. While mainstream bookstore manga sales increased incrementally, comic book store sales of manga declined by 5-10%.

The decline may be partially caused by increasing market saturation. There were 1513 new manga releases in 2007, up by 25% from 2006’s 1208 new releases.

I’m no mathmatician, but a 25% increase in product versus a 5% increase in sales does not seem to add up to a positive future.