Yes books have had a steep price increase in the last couple of years. Largely because there was a period where the price wasn't rising in line with inflation as publishers were swallowing increased production costs to try to keep books affordable. Then the economy hit a point where that stopped being feasible and book prices shot up almost overnight to catch up with inflation. Also for UK based readers Brexit and the subsequent collapse of the pound has had a big knock on effect on any books printed in continental Europe or the US and imported in. That mostly doesn't apply to general fiction but is relevant for more specialist books that aren't always printed locally.
However even with the price rises there is still very little money actually being made on books. So many people are involved in bringing a book out and all need a slice of the pie: authors, editors, cover designers, proof readers, marketing personnel, trade sales reps, book sellers, etc. And on top of that paper and ink are expensive themselves. After all the hours authors put into writing a book they're often making something stupid like 15p a copy and many bookshops and publishers are struggling to keep the doors open. It's all made worse by the fact that most publishers and authors feel they have to have their books on Amazon if they want anyone to hear about them but Amazon demands such massive discounts publishers sometimes even lose money on copies sold through Amazon and have to try to recoup that money through copies sold elsewhere. Meaning Amazon puts double pressure on bricks and mortar bookshops.
I totally get not everyone can afford to buy new books right now. And supporting libraries and second hand bookshops are both worthy aims in their own right! But if you can afford to occasionally buy a new book please consider doing so through a bricks and mortar shop and considering it an investment in the author's career and in all the people who've worked hard (often for low wages) to put that book in your hands.
VisibleDepth1231 t1_j1daifr wrote
Reply to Have books gotten more expensive? by syncomatic_columbia
Yes books have had a steep price increase in the last couple of years. Largely because there was a period where the price wasn't rising in line with inflation as publishers were swallowing increased production costs to try to keep books affordable. Then the economy hit a point where that stopped being feasible and book prices shot up almost overnight to catch up with inflation. Also for UK based readers Brexit and the subsequent collapse of the pound has had a big knock on effect on any books printed in continental Europe or the US and imported in. That mostly doesn't apply to general fiction but is relevant for more specialist books that aren't always printed locally.
However even with the price rises there is still very little money actually being made on books. So many people are involved in bringing a book out and all need a slice of the pie: authors, editors, cover designers, proof readers, marketing personnel, trade sales reps, book sellers, etc. And on top of that paper and ink are expensive themselves. After all the hours authors put into writing a book they're often making something stupid like 15p a copy and many bookshops and publishers are struggling to keep the doors open. It's all made worse by the fact that most publishers and authors feel they have to have their books on Amazon if they want anyone to hear about them but Amazon demands such massive discounts publishers sometimes even lose money on copies sold through Amazon and have to try to recoup that money through copies sold elsewhere. Meaning Amazon puts double pressure on bricks and mortar bookshops.
I totally get not everyone can afford to buy new books right now. And supporting libraries and second hand bookshops are both worthy aims in their own right! But if you can afford to occasionally buy a new book please consider doing so through a bricks and mortar shop and considering it an investment in the author's career and in all the people who've worked hard (often for low wages) to put that book in your hands.