LA Times on the decline of sales

The Los Angeles Times talks about how sales are declining, and how there are even some layoffs at a few smaller companies (and even sugarcoatedly mentions that foolish Spidey/Obama stunt). Among the things they tell here are:

...even after a year stuffed with blockbuster films based on comic books, growth in all sectors is stalling.

There are no statistics available for comic books sold to customers. But the number sold to merchants is dropping. For February through November of 2008, the amount of top comic books sold to shops was lower than the same period in 2007, according to online research group Comics Chronicles.

And why aren't there any? As I suspect, because those who could probably provide them are ashamed at how low sales are compared to what most books, music CDs and videotapes sell. Either way, this is another of various articles I've read from a mainstream paper that gives no clear sales figures, if that's what they mean.

...Hollywood might be able to inject some magic back into the market, several retailers said.

Last year, hit films like "The Dark Knight" helped attract casual readers. When the trailer for the movie adaptation of "Watchmen" debuted in July, DC Comics had to print 900,000 more copies of the graphic novel. Store managers are hoping the boost continues with upcoming movies like "Wolverine."

Otherwise,the sales skid could continue.

Trades are one thing, but pamphlets are now becoming another. And if prices are going up to 4 dollars, especially at Marvel, I don't think casual readers are going to be in such a hurry to buy those, when the price is halfway to what the movies themselves cost, which is almost ten dollars nowadays.

The future of pamphlets is not bright.