E-Books Set to Surpass Print in the U.S.

Over the next five years, the fate of the e-book is set to vary significantly by country. In Germany, for example, it will remain a niche player for the foreseeable future, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study published by the Economist. Today in the United States, the e-book industry is worth about $5.7 billion while print is worth approximately $10 billion. By 2018, print and e-books will be worth $7.9 and $8.7 billion respectively, an incredible shift compared to other developed nations like Germany where print is going to remain dominant. The e-book is also set to surpass print in the United Kingdom. In 2018, its e-book industry will be worth $1.5 billion compared to print which is expected to generate sales of $1.4 billion.