Domestic Manga Sales Down in 2008

Comic industry observer ICv2 reports that 2008 manga sales in America were down roughly 17% compared to 2007. The decline is blamed on the current U.S. economic recession; diminished mainstream promotional exposure for manga and anime; changes in the Borders bookstore chain’s purchasing procedure; and the success of author Stephenie Meyer’s series of “Twilight” novels that have siphoned off female manga readers. However, despite a 17% drop in sales, domestic manga releases only declined by 9% from 2007 to 2008.