How big is the college textbook market in the United States? What percentage of this market is new textbooks vs. used textbooks?

We just had a huge used book sale at our local community arts center. I got to take home free French, Latin and Spanish text books because there is no market for them. The publishers keep cranking out new editions. I know that this does not answer your question. Sorry.

College bookstores make a freakin’ killing in the US. Often so do Copying Shops. This is especially true at larger universities where Professors are expected to publish work. Often they require a book they wrote, reap the benefits, Then they Revise something so that they can make money again when their ‘old’ version has slight differences.

I don’t have any friends that buy new textbooks books unless they have to, self included. I sell all of my textbooks on half.com when I’m done with them. The great thing about selling them is that even though it’s used, you don’t have to mark the price down that much because SOMEONE is always signing up for class late and just needs the book as fast as possible.